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BEOWULF  AND  THE  OLD  WIFE  OF  THE   £Rf. 


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NEW  YORK 

WILLIAM  BEVERLEY  HARISON 
1900 


BERKELEY 

LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OP 
CALIFORNIA 


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Uales  ot  tbe  Iberoic  Uqcb 


Siegfried,  Hero  of  the  North 

Beowulf,  Hero  of  the  Anglo=Saxons 

Frithjof,  Viking  of  Norway 

Roland,  Paladin  of  France 


121110,    boards 


WILLIAM    BEVERLEY    HARISON 
New  York 


XTales  of  tf3e  Iberoic  Uqcs 

BEOWULF 

THE  HERO  OF  THE  ANGLO-SAXONS 


BY 

ZENAIDE  A.   RAGOZIN 

Member  of  the  Societe  Ethnologique  and  Athenee  Oriental,  Paris  ;  of  the 

American  Oriental  Society  ;  of  the  Royal    Asiatic  Society  of  Great 

Britain    and    Ireland ;  of   the   Anglo-Russian    Literary   Society, 

London ;  of  the  Historical  Society  of  the  University  of  Texas. 

Author  of  "History  of  the  World,"    "Story   of  Chaldea,"    "Story  of 

Assyria,"  "Story  of  Media,  Babylon  and  Persia,"  "Story  of  Vedic 

India,"    "Tales  of  Heroic  Ages,"   "Siegfried,   Hero  of  the 

North   and   Kriemhilde's    Great    Revenge,"    "  Frithjof, 

Viking  of  Norway,"  "Roland,  Paladin  of  France." 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  GEORGE  T.  TOBIN 


NEW  YORK 

WILLIAM  BEVERLEY  HARISON 

1900 


Copyright,  1898 

BY 

G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 
Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall,  London 


/r    OMCaJ  ^^-L 


6-<-/w 


Ube  ftnicfterbocher  press,  flew  J^orb 


Contents 

BEOWULF 


Prologue 


LA  V  I.—GRENDEL 


I. — Heorot 

II. — Grendel 

III. — A  Friend  in  Need 
IV. — The  Warden  .... 
V. — The  Arrival  .... 
VI. — The  Reception  and  thk  Pledge 
VII.— The  Feast      .... 
VIII.— The  Combat    .... 
IX. — Rejoicings  and  Thanksgivings 
X. — Heorot  Restored — Feasting  and  Gifts 

LAY  II.— GRENDEL' S  MOTHER 

I. — The  Avenger 
II.— The  Mere 
III. — Under  the  Waters 
IV.— The  Return    . 
V. — Last  Words    . 
Vr. — Homeward  Bound 
VII.— At  Home 


PAGE 
213 


219 
222 
226 
228 
231 
234 
237 
244 
249 
253 


259 
263 
267 
272 
275 
283 
287 


LAY  III— THE  DRAGON 

I. — The  Treasure 294 

II. — The  Attack 299 

III. — WiGLAF 304 

IV, — Victory  and  Death 307 

v.— Wiglaf's  Rebuke— Dismay  and  Tears         .  313 

VI. — The  Obsequies 318 

Note  on  the  "  Beowulf  " 323 


806 


PROLOGUE 

AMONG  the  nations  of  the  far  North, 
there  was  none  braver,  more  hardy, 
nobler,  than  the  Danes — none  whose  deeds 
in  war  were  sung  of  more  proudly  at  the 
feasts  of  earl  and  thane.  Many  were  the 
kings  whose  names  came  from  the  in- 
spired lips  of  Skalds,  as  their  hands  struck 
the  stringed  harp,  in  warlike  or  in  mourn- 
ful chords  ;  but  of  these  names  none  were 
treasured  more  reverently  than  those  of 
the  Skyldings,  the  oldest  royal  house 
known  to  Danish  tradition.  It  is  a  very 
long  time — over  a  thousand  years — since 
the  Danes  ruled  in  England.  Yet  even 
then  the  deeds  of  the  Skyldings  were 
tales  of  long  ago.  So  long  ago  that  they 
had  become  mixed  up  with  much  fable ; 
and  especially  the  beginnings  of  the  fa- 

213 


214  Beowulf 

mous  race  were  so  Intertwined  with  the 
wonders  of  heathen  Scandinavian  anti- 
quity that  it  has  never  been  possible  ta 
decide  exactly  how  much  was  history  and 
how  much  myth. 

The  father  of  the  race,  Skyld  of  the 
Sheaf,  was  great  in  the  memory  of  his 
people.  With  his  nobles — his  ethelings — 
he  had  wrested  lands  and  glory  from  many 
a  neighbouring  tribe — aye,  and  many  a 
distant  one,  too  ;  the  dread  of  him  fell  on 
the  bravest  warriors  ;  he  waxed  great  un~ 
der  the  sun,  he  flourished  in  peace,  till 
that  every  one  of  the  neighbouring  peo- 
ples over  the  sea  was  constrained  to  obey^ 
him  and  pay  tribute  ;  and  the  world  said 
of  him  when  he  died,  ''  That  was  a  good 
king!" 

Yet  Skyld  was  not  born  to  the  crown. 
In  fact  no  one  knew  anything  of  his  birtk 
and  parentage.  He  was  sent,  it  was  said, 
just  when  the  country  had  need  of  a  de- 
liverer and  leader.  He  had  come  one 
day, — so  the  story  ran, — over  the  sea,  in  a 
beautiful  ship,  a  new-born  infant,  bedded 
on  sheaves  of  wheat,  when  the   Danish. 


Prologue  215 

people  were  in  sore  distress  because  of 
the  wickedness  of  the  man  who  was,  at: 
the  time,  king  over  them. 

This  man's  name,  Heremod,  went  down,, 
unforgotten,  but  unhonoured,  through: 
many  a  generation,  a  by-word  for  bad 
monarchs.  He  was,  in  everything,  the  di- 
rect contrary  of  what  a  good  ruler  ought 
to  be.  He  used  his  power,  not  for  his 
nobles'  benefit  or  pleasure,  but  to  deal 
them  wanton  harm  and  even  death.  For 
his  ungovernable  temper  grew  on  him,, 
until,  in  his  furious  fits,  he  would  strike 
and  kill,  though  it  were  his  closest  follow- 
ers, his  companions  at  the  board  and  in 
the  battle.  In  his  soul  there  grew  a 
bloodthirsty  passion,  and  he  suffered  the 
penalty  of  his  evil  doings  in  the  estrange- 
ment of  his  friends,  the  settled  dislike  of 
his  people,  until  at  last  they  would  stand 
his  presence  no  longer,  and  he  wandered 
forth  alone,  away  from  all  human  society, 
and  was  never  heard  of  more.  It  was 
then  that  Skyld,  the  mysterious  found- 
ling, the  Heaven-sent,  seized  on  the  gov- 
ernment, brought  order  and  plenty  into 


2i6  Beowulf 

the  land,  and  won  love  from  his  people^ 
respect  from  his  foes. 

A  son  was  born  to  King  Skyld  in 
his  prime,  a  beautiful  child,  whom  God 
sent  for  the  people's  comfort  and  solace — 
Beowulf,  sole  heir  to  the  throne.  From 
his  earliest  years  he  was  full  of  promise, 
a  model  of  what  a  young  chief  should 
be  while  still  in  his  father's  care — 
always  ready  with  gracious  words  and 
open  hand,  so  that  in  his  riper  age  will- 
ing comrades  in  return  were  ready  to 
stand  by  him  in  war,  and  men  gladly 
did  his  bidding.  Then,  surrounded  and 
assisted  by  devoted  friends  who  grew 
up  with  him,  he  was  enabled  to  perform 
deeds  which  filled  the  world  with  praise 
of  him. 

As  for  Skyld,  he  departed,  in  the  ful- 
ness of  time,  ripe  in  honours  and  years, 
to  go  into  the  Master's  keeping.  His 
faithful  comrades  then  carried  him  forth 
to  the  shore  of  the  sea,  as  he  himself  had 
ordered.  The  black,  heavy  earth  should 
have  no  part  in  him  ;  the  sea  had  brought 
him,    the    ever-moving,    many-hued ;    the 


Prologue  217 

sea  should  bear  him  hence,  after  his  long 
years  of  power. 

There  at  anchor  rode  the  ship,  glisten- 
ing fresh,  outward  bound,  fit  for  a  prince. 
Down  they  laid  their  illustrious  dead,  the 
dear  chief  of  the  land,  dispenser  of  boun- 
ties, on  the  lap  of  the  ship,  by  the  mast. 
There  was  great  store  of  precious  things ; 
ornaments  from  remote  parts,  weapons  of 
rare  worth,  mail  armour  finely  wrought, 
and  harness  glittering  in  silver  and  in 
gold  ;  a  multitude  of  treasures,  which  were 
to  pass  with  him  far  away  into  the  watery 
realm.  Furthermore  they  set  by  him  the 
royal  banner,  gold-broidered,  high  over  his 
head.  As  its  folds  unfurled  and  glittered 
in  the  breeze,  it  told  the  skies,  and  the 
sun,  and  the  stars  of  night,  that  a  King 
went  forth  into  the  world,  on  his  last  voy- 
age. They  set  the  helm,  and  gave  him 
over  to  the  ocean,  sad  at  heart,  with  tear- 
dimmed  eyes,  and  silent  in  their  mourn- 
ing. And  Who  received  that  burthen — 
no  man  under  heaven,  be  it  priest  or  chief- 
tain or  wise  seer,  can  ever  tell  or  know. 

Thus  Skyld  of  the  Sheaf  was  honoured 


2l8 


Beowulf 


in  death  after  the  manner  of  the  mighty 
dead  of  oldest  times  among  the  strong- 
hearted  sons  of  the  North.  From  the 
Unknown  he  came  and  into  the  Unknown 
was  borne  away. 


LAY  I 

GRENDEL 


HEOROT 

THEN  Beowulf  of  the  Skyldings  sat  in 
the  seat  of  his  father,  loved  of  his 
people,  for  a  long  time  famous  among  the 
nations,  and  was  succeeded  in  turn  by  his 
son.  The  royal  race  of  the  Skyldings 
prospered  greatly,  and  when  the  crown 
came  to  his  grandson  Hrothgar,  its  great- 
ness seemed  assured  for  all  time.  Hroth- 
gar was  a  youth  of  goodly  parts  ;  brave 
and  ambitious  in  war,  yet  delighting  in 
the  gentle  works  of  peace,  a  born  com- 
mander always.  So  that  his  brothers  and 
cousins  gladly  took  him  for  their  leader, 
219 


2  20  Beowulf 

and  a  young  brood  of  devoted  clansmen 
grew  up  around  him,  valiant  in  battle, 
merry  companions  at  the  board.  With 
these  he  did  some  mighty  deeds,  winning 
renown  and  riches,  when  they  were  young 
together,  and  as  together  they  grew  old, 
he  loved  to  sit  with  them  at  the  feast,  en- 
joying well-earned  rest,  rehearsing  the 
toils  and  joys  of  the  brave  old  days,  and 
listening  to  sweet  minstrelsy  from  the  lips 
of  God-inspired  bards. 

Now  Hrothgar  was  very  wealthy  and 
his  comrades  were  too  many  for  an  ordi- 
nary hall,  even  that  of  a  king's  palace. 
So  he  bethought  him  of  having  men  build 
for  him  a  great  banqueting-hall,  greater 
than  the  children  of  men  had  ever  heard 
tell  of,  that  he  might  spend  there  happy, 
careless  days,  dealing  out  freely  to  old 
and  young  the  goods  that  God  had  blessed 
him  with. 

The  fame  of  the  work  spread  rapidly 
and  widely,  and  more  than  one  tribe  curi- 
ously watched  its  progress.  It  came  to 
an  end  with  a  quickness  which  surprised 
all  men,  and  there  the  fair  structure  stood. 


Heorot 


221 


towering  aloft  into  the  blue  air,  the  great- 
est of  all  hall  buildings,  a  gathering  place 
for  happy  men,  defying  destruction  except 
from  the  irresistible  might  of  fire.  It  was 
called  Heorot — Hart-hall — because  of  the 
noble  crown  of  antlers  which  ran  round 
the  eaves  of  the  building, — and  the  open- 
ing banquet  was  an  event  long  remem- 
bered in  the  land,  from  the  bountiful 
hospitality  dispensed  by  the  King  and  the 
wealth  of  gifts,  in  rings  and  other  precious 
things,  which  he  gave  away  with  almost 
reckless  lavishness  on  this  occasion. 


II 

GRENDEL 

BUT  there  was  one  apart  from  all  this 
joy  who  was  consumed  with  malice 
and  with  hatred,  who  vowed  to  turn  the 
joy  into  direst  grief,  the  shouts  of  glad- 
ness into  moans  and  wails,  ere  many  days 
had  come  and  gone.  True,  no  human 
wight  was  he,  but  one  of  the  unholy  brood 
of  monsters,  accursed  of  God,  who  dwell 
in  moors,  fens,  and  swamps,  remote  from 
God-fearing  men,  ever  bent  on  doing  hell's 
work  of  harm  and  destruction — the  unblest 
posterity  (so  wise  men  tell)  of  Cain,  the 
first  shedder  of  innocent  blood. 

To  this  Grendel,  this  outcast  creature, 
dwelling  in  darkness,  it  was  torture  un- 
bearable to  hear  the  sounds  of  rejoicing 
day  by  day,  as  they  came,  borne  by  the 

222 


Grendel  223 

wind  to  him,  across  the  moor — the  tender 
sighing  of  the  harp,  the  ringing  song  of 
the  minstrel. 

Once,  one  skilled  in  holy  song  told  of 
the  creation  of  the  world  :  how  the  Al- 
rnighty  made  the  earth,  radiant  with 
beauty,  and  the  waters  that  encompass  it, 
delighting  in  His  work  ;  and  how  He  or^ 
dained  the  siin  and  the  moon,  for  light  to 
the  dwellers  on  the  earth,  and  made  the 
woods  beautiful  with  boughs  and  leaves ; 
and  how  He  put  life  into  all  the  things 
that  breathe  and  move. 

Grimly  the  wicked  one  hearkened  to  the 
strain,  which  fed  his  unholy  fury  until  it 
craved  for  slaughter,  fell,  immediate. 

He  set  out  that  very  night,  as  soon  as 
darkness  descended,  made  straight  for 
the  lofty  hall.  He  did  not  much  fear  de- 
tection, for  he  knew  that  after  such  a 
carousal  the  warriors  would  be  overcome 
with  sleep.  And  truly,  there  they  lay,  in 
the  hall  itself,  with  their  weapons  by  their 
side,  yet  helpless  as  unarmed  women.  He 
went,  and,  in  their  sleep,  seized  and  killed 
thirty  of  the  thanes  ;  then  hied  him  back 


224  Beowulf 

to  his  moor  with  the  war  spoils,  yelling 
with  fierce  joy. 

Then  was  there  a  great  cry  in  the  grey 
morning.  The  voice  of  weeping  was 
raised  where  but  now  the  song  of  gladness 
had  filled  the  air.  Dazed  and  woe-begone, 
the  King  sat  in  his  high  place,  and  wept 
for  his  thanes.  But  when,  the  very  next 
night,  Grendel  returned  and  committed 
even  greater  murder,  and  again  and 
again  after  that,  terror  seized  on  them  all. 
Men  kept  in  close  hiding  from  nightfall 
to  break  of  day,  then  gradually  left  their 
own  well-appointed  homes,  sleeping  in 
barns  or  in  the  open,  away  from  dwell- 
ings, wherever  they  thought  they  could 
best  bestow  themselves  for  safety ;  but 
naught  availed  to  save.  For  twelve  win- 
ters' space  the  baleful  fiend  warred  single- 
handed  against  the  Skyldings  and  their 
friends,  till  all  the  best  houses  stood  de- 
serted. Unbounded  were  the  sorrows  of 
that  dreadful  time,  unspeakable  the  dis- 
tress, and  the  fame  thereof  was  carried  to 
foreign  lands  in  ballads  and  moving  tales. 
Men  dared  not  go  within  miles  of  the 
fated  moor ;  so  travel  was  stopped,  trib- 


Grendel  225 

ute  remained  unpaid  ;  for  the  foul  ruffian, 
a  dark  shadow  of  death  prowled  about 
and  lay  in  wait.  Of  night  he  continually 
held  the  misty  moors ;  and  no  one  knew 
what  way  the  hellish  birth  moved  in  his 
rounds,  for  never  was  the  monster  seen  of 
man.  As  to  Heorot,  the  richly  decorated 
hall,  Grendel  made  that  his  headquarters, 
and  occupied  it  every  dark  night.  Only 
he  was  never  able  to  come  near  the  throne, 
because  it  stood  on  a  consecrated  spot, 
and  was  hallowed  by  priestly  benison. 

A  great  affliction,  heart-breaking,  was 
this  that  had  come  on  the  Skyldings  and 
their  friends.  Many  a  time  and  oft  did 
the  best  and  wisest  sit  in  council,  seeking 
what  were  best  be  done  in  these  awful 
straits.  So  sorely  were  they  bested,  that 
they  forgot  at  times  that  they  were  Christ- 
ians, and  more  than  once  craved  help 
against  the  goblin  visitant  from  the  old 
heathen  gods,  vowing  sacrifices  at  their 
secret  shrines. 

Thus  was  King  Hrothgar  perpetually 
tossed  with  the  trouble  of  that  time,  and 
not  all  his  wisdom  availed  to  ward  off  the 
evil. 


Ill 


A  FRIEND  IN  NEED 

THERE  lived  at  that  time  among  the 
Goths,  at  the  right  hand  of  their  King, 
Hygelac,  a  young  thane,  his  cousin,  of  the 
name  of  Beowulf.  He  was,  as  his  name  be- 
tokened, one  of  the  Skylding  race,  but  only 
in  the  female  line.  Young  as  he  was,  he 
had  won  for  himself  a  name  of  wide  re- 
nown as  a  hero  of  high  achievement  and 
the  mightiest  among  all  the  men  of  his  time. 
Now,  this  brave  thane,  in  his  distant 
home,  heard  of  the  misdeeds  of  Grendel, 
and  his  heart  ached  for  the  aged  King,  the 
evening  of  whose  days  was  clouded  over 
by  such  unheard-of  tribulation.  He  made 
up  his  mind  to  help,  and  sued  to  King 
Hygelac  for  permission  to  undertake  the 
venture  with  a  few  picked  comrades.  His 
friends  of  the  King's  council  and  board 
226 


A  Friend  in  Need  227 

praised  the  gallant  youth  to  the  skies. 
They  egged  on  his  daring  spirit,  they  took 
omens  and  consulted  signs  on  his  behalf; 
but  they  did  not  begrudge  him  the  advent- 
ure, wise  men  that  they  were,  even  though 
he  was  dear  to  them. 

Beowulf  ordered  a  good  ship  to  be  made 
ready  for  him,  to  take  him  over  the  road 
that  swans  travel.^  He  selected  fourteen 
champions  among  the  Goths,  the  keenest 
he  could  find,  and  went  to  sea  with  them^ 
having  made  sure  ofa  skilful,  experienced 
pilot,  who  knew  the  shallows  and  the 
deeps.  Like  a  bird  the  good  ship,  tight- 
timbered,  slender-necked,  sped  before  the 
wind,  and  made  such  way  that  on  the  next 
day  already  the  eager  voyagers  saw  land, 
gleaming  cliffs,  hills  towering,  headlands 
stretching  out  to  sea :  the  passage  was 
ended.  Lightly  the  ethelings  sprang 
ashore,  made  fast  the  ship,  shook  out  their 
garments,  saw  to  their  arms,  and  gave 
thanks  to  God  for  that  their  seafaring  had 
been  easy. 

'  Literally  true  :  the  North  Sea  is  the  "  path  of  the  swans" 
and  to  this  day  wild  swans  abound  on  the  coast  of  Norway. 


IV 

THE  WARDEN 

WHILE  Beowulf  and  his  friends  were 
busy  with  their  landing,  thinking 
only  of  the  work  before  them,  the  Skyl- 
dings  warden,  he  whose  duty  it  was  to 
guard  the  sea-cliffs  and  report  any  stran- 
gers that  hove  in  sight,  espied  them  from 
his  high  watch-place.  Moved  by  curiosity 
as  much  as  by  duty,  he  rode  down  to  the 
beach  in  great  excitement,  brandishing  a 
powerful,  huge  lance,  and  demanded,  in  no 
gentle  terms,  to  know  the  strangers'  errand 
and  nationality,  before  they  could  be  al- 
lowed to  proceed  any  farther  into  the  land 
of  the  Danes. 

Beowulf  at  once  stepped  forth  and  spoke 
up  for  all,  with  a  dignity  and  courtesy  which 
shamed  the  rude  officer  into  more  manly 
228 


The  Warden  229 

behaviour.  He  gave  a  full  account  of  him- 
self, then  concluded  : 

*'  We  have  come  with  friendly  intent  to 
visit  thy  lord.  We  have  a  great  message 
to  him  ;  nor  is  there,  to  my  mind,  any  need 
to  keep  it  dark.  For  it  is  no  secret  that 
the  Skyldings  are  in  great  tribulation  be- 
cause of  a  mysterious  fiend,  who  has  been 
vexing  them  for  years  with  his  nightly  de- 
predations. Now  I  can  teach  Hrothgar  the 
remedy,  and  bring  back  better  times.  This 
I  say  in  all  sincerity  of  heart." 

To  this  speech  the  warden  replied  in 
greatly  altered  tones : 

'*  I  gather  from  what  I  hear  that  this  is 
a  friendly  band  come  to  visit  the  lord  of 
the  Skyldings.  But  it  is  a  faithful  ser- 
vant's part  to  question  sharply  and  to  gain 
certainty  on  all  points  before  he  commits 
his  k)rd.  Keep  your  arms  and  march  on  : 
I  will  guide  you.  Likewise  will  I  com- 
mand my  kinsmen  thanes  honourably  to 
keep  against  every  foe  your  vessel  here 
on  the  beach." 

Upon  this  invitation  the  troop  gaily  left 
their  ship  riding  safely  at  her  anchor,  and 


230  Beowulf 

eagerly  pressed  forward,  until  their  eyes 
beheld  the  far-famed  hall,  Heorot  the  gold- 
roofed,  most  renowned  of  all  mansions  un- 
der the  sky.  Then  the  warden  pointed 
with  his  hand  to  the  road  which  led  straight 
to  it,  wheeled  round  his  horse,  and  spoke 
a  parting  word  : 

''  It  is  time  for  me  to  go.  May  the  all- 
wielding  Father  graciously  keep  you  safe 
in  adventures  !  As  for  me,  I  must  hie  me 
back  to  the  shore,  to  keep  my  watch  against 
foes  from  the  sea." 


THE  ARRIVAL 

THE  road  was  stone-paven,  and  so 
straight,  there  was  no  need  of  a  guide. 
Beowulf  and  his  band  marched  up  to  the 
Hall  in  grim,  warlike  guise,  their  burnished 
corslets  shining,  the  iron  rings  of  their 
mail  shirts  clanging  loud.  When  they 
reached  the  mansion,  the  weary  men  set 
down  their  broad  shields,  leaning  them 
against  the  wall,  and  seated  themselves  in 
silence  on  the  bench  before  the  entrance, 
after  stacking  their  spears  together,  ready 
to  their  hand.  Thus  they  waited  in  dig- 
nified silence  for  somebody  to  come  from 
King  Hrothgar  and  challenge  them. 

Very  soon  an  officer  appeared  and  put 
the     customary    questions,    to    which    he 
added  some  respectful  compliments  : 
231 


232  Beowulf 

''  I  am,"  he  said,  "  Hrothgar's  herald 
and  esquire.  Never  saw  I  foreigners  of 
loftier  mien.  I  think  that  ye  have  come 
to  visit  Hrothgar,  not  from  desperate  fort- 
unes, but  bound  on  some  high  undertak- 

To  which  the  proud  leader  replied  with 
gallant  bearing  : 

*'  We  are  Hygelac's  own  table-fellows. 
My  name  is  Beowulf.  I  will  myself  ex- 
pound mine  errand  to  thy  lord,  if  so  he 
deign  to  admit  us  to  his  presence." 

The  officer,  Wulfgar  by  name,  hastened 
forthwith  to  where  Hrothgar  sat,  old  and 
hoary,  and  bent  with  grief,  amid  his  de- 
spondent warriors,  and  not  only  told  of 
the  valiant  guests  from  the  land  of  the 
Goths  and  their  petition,  but  advised  him 
to  give  them  a  friendly  reception.  In  the 
deep  distress  of  these  sorry  times,  it 
seemed  as  though  any  change  must  be  for 
the  better,  and  every  stranger  must  bring 
hope. 

The  sad  old  King  brightened  at  mention 
of  Beowulf's  name,  whose  father  he  had 
known  in  the  dear  departed  days  of  golden 


The  Arrival 


233 


youth,  and  whose  own  renown  he  pleasur- 
ably  recalled.  . 

''  This  son,"  he  said,  "  I  mind  him  well. 
I  knew  him  when  he  was  a  page.  He  has 
grown  into  a  valiant  campaigner.  It  is 
said  that  he  has  thirty  men's  strength  in 
his  handgrip.  Surely  God  of  His  grace 
hath  sent  him  to  us  in  our  great  need. 
Bid  him  and  his  men,  one  and  all,  into  my 
presence  straight,  with  every  martial  hon- 
our. Say  to  them,  moreover,  in  words, 
that  they  are  welcome." 


, 

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VI 

THE  RECEPTION  AND  THE  PLEDGE 

WULFGAR,  nothing  loth,  took  the 
royal  message  to  the  waiting 
guests  and  ushered  them  into  the  royal 
presence  in  full  warlike  equipment,  helm 
on  head,  sword  on  hip.  Beowulf,  tall  and 
commanding,  his  corslet  of  cunningly  link- 
ed mail  shining  as  a  network  of  lights, 
took  his  stand  before  the  King,  and,  with 
firm  eye  and  becoming  assurance,  spoke 
thus  at  length  of  what  was  nearest  to  his 
and  the  Danes'  hearts  : 

''To  Hrothgar  hail  !  I  am  King  Hyge- 
lac's  cousin-thane.  Many  a  deed  of  daring 
was  mine  in  youngsterhood.  All  that  ye 
suffer  here  from  Grendel  became  known 
to  us  in  Gothland.  Seafaring  men  told  us 
how  that  this  hall,  this  most  princely  fabric, 
23d 


The  Reception  and  the  Pledge    235 

stands  useless  and  empty  each  night,  as 
soon  as  the  star  of  day  is  hidden  from 
view.  Then  did  my  people,  the  wisest 
and  best  among  them,  urge  me  that  I 
should  visit  thee,  O  royal  Hrothgar.  Be- 
cause they  knew  the  strength  of  my  arm 
of  their  own  knowledge  :  time  and  again 
they  had  seen  me  return  from  the  field 
battered  by  foes,  but  never  beaten  ;  five 
monsters  I  bound  on  land,  and  in  the 
waves  I  slew  many  a  nicor^  in  the  night- 
time. And  now  I  am  bound  to  champion 
thy  quarrel,  O  King,  single-handed, 
against  Grendel,  the  evil  giant.  But  one 
petition  I  have,  which  thou,  O  Shelter  of 
the  Danes,  wilt  not  refuse  to  one  who  is 
come  from  far  to  serve  thee  :  it  is  that  I 
may  have  the  task  alone— I  and  my  band 
of  earls — to  purge  Heorot.  And  as  I 
have  learnt  that  the  terrible  one,  out  of 
sheer  boastfulness,  despises  the  use  of 
weapons,  so  I  too  will  forego  them,  and 
bear    not    sword,    nor    spear,    nor   broad 

*"  Nicors  "  are  mischievous  water-sprites,  who  delight  in 
making  trouble  for  ships  and  sailors.  The  feminine  in  Ger- 
man is  "  Nixe,"  the  beautiful  water-maiden  who  lures  mortals 
down  into  her  watery  abode. 


236  Beowulf 

shield  to  my  battle  with  him  ;  but  with 
handgrip  alone  will  I  meet  him,  foe  to 
foe,  and  him  of  the  two  whom  the  Lord 
doometh,  let  grim  Death  take  for  his  own. 

"  Should  the  doom  fall  upon  me,"  Be- 
owulf went  on,  "  thou  wilt  not,  O  King,  be 
put  to  the  trouble  of  building  a  mound 
over  my  head.  For  if  all  tales  of  Grendel 
be  true,  he  will  bear  away  the  gory  corpse, 
to  feast  on  it  in  his  lonely  moor.  But  this 
do  thou  for  love  of  me  ;  send  to  Hygelac 
the  matchless  armour  that  protects  my 
breast — it  is  a  work  of  Weland,  cunning- 
est  of  smiths,  and  such  are  not  made  now- 
adays ;  meet  gift  from  a  departing  friend." 


#- 


^m 

^^ 

^^ 

S^p 

^^S 

^^^W 

^^^ 

VII 
THE  FEAST 

TO  this  speech,  manly  and  heroic,  H  roth- 
gar  made  reply  in  many  words — for 
age  is  not  sparing  of  its  breath  in  words. 
He  gave  thanks  to  the  God-sent  young 
champion  ;  he  went  back  to  the  deeds  of 
his  youth,  in  company  with  his  brothers 
and  many  brave  comrades  long  dead  ;  he 
dwelt  on  the  horrors  of  these  latter  years. 
Then,  at  length  bethinking  himself  that 
the  wayfarers  must  be  a-weary  and  a- 
hungered,  he  said  to  the  chief  : 

*'  But  now  sit  thee  down  to  the  banquet 
with  thy  fellows,  and  merrily  share  the 
feast  as  the  spirit  moves  thee." 

A  table  was  promptly  cleared  for  the 
Goths.  Thither  they  went,  and  sat  in  the 
pride  of  their  strength.  A  thane  at- 
237 


238  Beowulf 

tended  to  their  wants,  going  from  one  to 
the  other  with  a  mighty  ale-can  of  hand- 
some workmanship.  Again  and  again  he 
poured  out  the  golden  ale.  At  times  a 
minstrel's  voice  rose  in  Heorot,  ringing 
and  clear,  and  there  was  right  brave  merri- 
ment and  good-will  in  this  mixed  company 
of  Goths  and  Danes. 

Yet  was  there  one  eye  that  gleamed 
not  with  merriment  and  good-will,  one  head 
that  hatched  no  friendly  thoughts,  because 
the  heart  swelled  with  malice  and  envy. 
Unferth  it  was,  the  King's  own  story-teller, 
who  sat  at  his  feet,  to  be  ready  at  all  times 
to  amuse  him.  He  broached  a  quarrel- 
some theme — an  adventure  in  Beowulf's 
early  youth,  the  only  contest  in  his  record 
the  issue  of  which,  though  hard  fought, 
might  be  called  doubtful.  For  this  Un- 
ferth was  an  envious  wight,  whose  soul 
grudged  that  any  man  should  achieve 
greater  things  than  himself. 

"  Art  thou  not,"  he  began  tauntingly, 
"  that  same  Beowulf  who  strove  with  Breca 
on  open  sea  in  a  swimming  match,  in  which 
ye  both  wantonly  exposed  your  lives,  and 


The  Feast '  239 

no  man,  either  friend  or  foe,  could  turn 
you  from  the  foohsh  venture  ?  A  se'n- 
night  ye  twain  toiled  .in  the  realm  of  the 
waters,  and,  if  I  err  not,  he  outdid  thee 
in  swimming,  for  he  had  greater  strength. 
Wherefore  I  fear  me  much  thou  mayest 
meet  with  sorry  luck  if  thou  darest  to 
bide  here  for  Grendel  for  the  space  of  a 
whole  night." 

Beowulf,  though  angered,  controlled  his 
temper  and  replied  with  great  coolness  : 

"  Big  things  are  these,  friend  Unferth, 
which  thou  hast  spoken  ;  evidently,  good 
ale  has  loosened  thy  wits.  Yes, — Breca 
and  I  used  to  talk  between  ourselves  when 
we  were  pages,  and  brag  each  of  his  prow- 
ess, being  but  youngsters,  and  so  we  made 
up  the  foolish  match  between  us,  and  hav- 
ing made  it,  we  stuck  to  it.  Drawn  sword 
in  hand  we  went  into  the  water  :  we  meant 
to  guard  ourselves  against  sea-monsters 
and  water-sprites.  Five  nights  we  kept 
close  together,  then  the  flood  parted  us. 
It  was  a  dark  night,  freezing  cold,  and  a 
fierce  wind  from  the  north  came  dead 
against  us,  the  waves  running  rough  and 


240  '    Beowulf 

high.  One  spotty  monster  dragged  me 
to  the  bottom  ;  but  I  did  not  lose  my  grip 
on  my  sword  and  despatched  the  mighty 
sea-brute.  I  know  not  how  many  more  I 
fought  and  killed :  it  was  a  grewsome 
night.  At  last,  light  broke  in  the  east, 
and  the  waves  grew  calmer,  so  I  could  see 
the  headlands,  and  the  sea  cast  me  up  on 
the  shore.  I  escaped  with  my  life,  though 
worn  and  spent,  and  never  heard  I  of 
harder  fight,  or  of  man  sorer  distressed. 
Anyhow,  it  was  my  good  luck  that  I  slew 
with  the  sword  nine  nicors.  So  many 
less  were  left  to  play  havoc  with  seafaring 
ships.  Therefore,  methinks  I  may  rightly 
claim  that  I  have  proved  more  sea-prow- 
ess, endured  more  buffetings  from  waves^ 
than  any  other  man." 

Thus  Beowulf  told  of  his  youthful  prank. 
Then  turning  upon  Unferth  with  flashing 
eye  and  clouded  brow — 

*'  Of  a  sooth,"  he  cried,  "  I  say  to  thee, 
Unferth,  that  never  had  Grendel,  the  foul 
ruffian,  made  up  such  a  tale  of  horrors, 
wrought  such  disgrace  in  Heorot,  if  thy 
spirit  were  as  high  as  thou  wouldst  claim 


The  Feast  241 

for  thyself.  But  he  has  found  out  that 
he  has  not  much  to  fear  from  the  mighty 
Danes  ;  so  he  takes  blackmail,  and  slaugh- 
ters and  feasts  at  his  ease.  But  now  the 
Goth  shall  ere  long  show  him  another  kind 
of  spirit,  and  when  the  light  of  another 
day  rises  over  the  world,  then  shall  all 
who  choose  walk  proudly  into  the  hall^ 
with  head  erect." 

This  speech,  so  brave  and  cheery,  glad- 
dened the  old  King's  heart,  and  even  the 
Danes  applauded  it,  although  it  held  a 
bitter  sting :  they  took  it  as  a  well-de- 
served hit  at  the  unmannerly  Unferth. 
So  laughter  greeted  Beowulf's  words, 
music  sounded  again,  jolly  drinking-songs 
filled  the  hall  ;  and  none  seemed  to  re- 
member— although  at  heart  none  forgot 
it — that  night  was  coming  on,  and  what 
it  was  to  bring. 

And  now,  behold !  Hrothgar's  royal 
consort,  Queen  Wealhtheow,  well  versed 
in  ceremonies  and  courtly  lore,  entered 
the  hall,  resplendent  in  cloth  of  gold,  to 
honour    her     husband's    guests    with    a 

gracious   word    and    a  draught  of   sweet 

16 


242  Beowulf 

mead  from  her  own  royal  hands.  Her 
stately  greeting  took  in  all  the  men  in  the 
hall ;  then  she  presented  the  beaker  with 
graceful  obeisance  to  her  lord,  wishing 
him  blithe  at  the  banquet,  and  happy  in 
his  liegemen's  love.  Then  she  went  the 
round  of  the  hall,  to  elder  and  younger, 
and  to  each  she  handed  the  jewelled  cup, 
until  she  came  to  where  Beowulf  was 
sitting  among  the  young  ethelings.  With 
befitting  dignity  she  greeted  the  leader  of 
the  Goths,  as  he  stood  before  her,  thank- 
ing God  with  wise  choice  of  words  that  her 
heart's  desire  had  come  to  pass.  He, 
the  hero  of  many  battles,  took  the  beaker 
from  her  hand,  and,  ere  he  drained  it, 
repeated  his  solemn  pledge  : 

''  When  I  went  on  board  and  sat  in  my 
ship,  as  she  sped  over  the  waters,  with 
this  my  chosen  band,  I  vowed  I  would 
work  out  the  deliverance  of  your  people. 
I  am  bound  as  an  earl  to  fulfil  my  vow,  or 
in  this  hall  to  meet  my  death  to-night." 

He  quaffed  the  mead,  and  she,  the 
noble  lady,  inclined  her  diademed  head 
as    she    took    from    him    the  cup,  for  his 


^^*»' 


The  Feast  243 

words  were,  well  to  her  liking.  Then 
slowly,  with  trailing  robes,  she  walked  to 
the  head  of  the  hall,  to  sit  by  her  lord. 

For  some  time  yet  the  banqueting  went 
on  as  merrily  as  ever, — until  the  daylight 
began  to  wane,  when  suddenly  song  and 
laughter  died  on  the  revellers'  lips,  and 
King  Hrothgar  bethought  himself  that  it 
was  time  to  retire,  for  he  knew  that  the 
monster  came  forth  when  shrouding  night 
decends  and  the  creatures  of  darkness  go 
stalking  abroad.  In  silence  all  the  com- 
pany arose. 

Hrothgar  greeted  Beowulf  and  spoke 
solemn  words  : 

''  Never  before,  since  my  hand  lifted 
shield,  did  I  entrust  the  Guard-house  of 
the  Danes  to  any  man, — never  but  now 
to  thee.  Have  and  hold  the  sacred  house 
against  the  foe.  Be  watchful,  valiant,  and 
may  victory  wait  on  thee  !  No  wish  of 
thine  shall  go  unfulfilled  if  thou  dost  per- 
form the  great  work  and  livest  to  tell  it." 

Thus  spoke  Hrothgar  the  Skylding, 
and  gravely  departed  from  the  hall,  with 
his  Queen,  followed  by  his  men. 


VIII 

THE  COMBAT 

SILENTLY  Beowulf  looked  after  the 
Danes  ;  silently  he  began  to  divest 
himself  of  his  armour,  mindful  of  his  vow 
to  fight  the  goblin  bare-handed.  He 
laid  off  his  shining  mail,  his  helmet  and 
his  sword  of  choicest  steel,  and  gave  them 
in  charge  to  his  esquire  ;  then  he  stretched 
himself  on  the  floor  and  laid  his  cheek  on 
a  pillow.  For  the  hall  had  meanwhile 
been  promptly  cleared  of  tables  and 
benches,  which  were  pushed  against  the 
walls,  and  couches  of  soft  pelts  and  rugs 
were  spread  on  the  floor.  His  comrades 
did  likewise.  Not  that  rest  came  to  any 
of  them  at  first  ;  for  not  one  thought  in 
his  heart  he  should  ever  again  see  his 
own  folk,  his  native  land,  the  castle  where 
244 


The  Combat  245 

he  was  nurtured.  But  even  as  they  kept 
turning  these  things  over  in  their  minds^ 
their  Hmbs  relaxed,  their  Hds  grew  heavy 
with  very  weariness,  and — they  slept.  All 
slept,  but  one, — and  he  lay  quite  still,, 
straining  his  ear  to  listen  and  his  eye  to 
peer  through  the  dim  night. 

And  hark !  tramp,  tramp,  he  came 
marching  from  the  moor, — Grendel,  the 
God-sent  scourge.  Straight  for  the  hall 
he  made  through  the  gloom  :  it  was  not 
the  first  time  he  visited  Hrothgar's  home- 
stead ;  but  never  had  he  met  such  a 
welcome  as  now  awaited  him  there. 

He  came  carelessly  along,  as  one  assured 
of  his  entertainment.  The  door,  though 
fastened  with  bars  of  wrought  iron,  sprang 
open  at  his  touch.  Quickly  he  stepped 
across  the  flagged  floor,  big  with  rage, 
with  eyes  ablaze.  Suddenly  he  perceived 
the  troop  of  strange  warriors,  lying  close 
together,  asleep.  He  laughed  aloud.  He 
gloated  as  he  stood  over  them,  and  thought 
that,  ere  day  came,  the  life  of  each  of  them 
should  have  been  wrenched  from  the  body, 
since  luck  had  sent  him  such  a  treat. 


246  Beowulf 

Beowulf  curbed  his  rage  to  watch  the 
fell  ruffian  and  see  how  he  meant  to  pro- 
ceed. The  delay  was  not  long  :  Grendel 
quickly,  at  one  grab,  seized  a  sleeping 
warrior,  tore  him  up,  crunched  the  bony 
frame,  drank  the  blood  from  the  veins, 
swallowed  the  flesh  in  huge  morsels ;  in 
a  trice  he  had  devoured  the  lifeless  body, 
feet,  hands,  and  all.  Then  he  stepped 
forward  to  where  the  hero  lay,  and  reached 
out  a  hand  to  seize  him  on  his  bed — but 
suddenly  felt  his  arm  held  tight  in  such 
a  grip  as  he  had  never  met  with  from  any 
man  in  all  the  world.  He  knew  at  once 
that  he  was  in  an  evil  plight — in  mortal 
fear  he  strove  to  wrench  himself  free  and 
flee.  This  was  not  the  entertainment  he 
had  been  wont  to  meet  there  in  bygone 
days. 

Now  all  were  awake,  and  the  hall  was 
in  an  uproar.  And  over  at  the  castle,  a 
deadly  panic  came  over  all  the  Danes, 
noble  or  simple,  brave  men  as  they  were. 
Furious  were  both  the  maddened  champ- 
ions ;  the  hall  resounded  with  their  wrest- 
ling.    It  was  a  great  wonder  the  building 


The  Combat  247 

did  not  fall  to  the  ground  ;  only  that  it 
was  inwardly  and  outwardly  made  strong 
with  iron  stanchions,  with  such  masterly 
skill.  In  this  night  of  terror  it  made  good 
the  Danes'  boast  that  no  mortal  force  short 
of  fire  would  ever  be  able  to  wreck  it. 

The  noise  rose  high,  with  increasing 
violence.  The  Danes  outside  were  numb 
with  horror  at  the  unearthly  shrieks  and 
dismal  bowlings  of  the  God -forsaken 
fiend.  Many  an  earl  of  Beowulf's  un- 
sheathed and  plunged  into  the  fight ;  they 
knew  not  that  they  could  not  help  their 
leader,  much  as  they  desired  it,  for  that 
no  choicest  blade  on  earth  could  touch 
that  destroyer,  because  he  had  secured 
himself  by  spells  and  incantations  against 
weapons  of  all  kinds.  But  he  was  not 
proof  against  human  heroic  might,  and 
from  that  he  now  got  his  death-wound, 
as  Beowulf,  with  a  desperate  grip  and  tug, 
wrenched  his  arm  off  from  the  shoulder. 
With  a  terrific  yell,  which  told  the  listen- 
ing Danes  that  the  dire  struggle  was 
ended,  and  victory  won  by  their  champ- 
ion,   Grendel  fled  to  the  coverts  of  the 


248 


Beowulf 


fen  :  v/ell    he    knew  that    the  number  of 
his  days  was  full. 

Thus  was  the  valiant  champion's  pledge 
redeemed  ;  thus  was  Heorot  purged.  The 
leader  of  the  Goths  had  made  good  his 
vaunt,  and,  in  token  thereof,  he  hung  up 
Grendel's  hand,  arm,  and  shoulder — grim 
trophy  ! — under  the  gabled  roof. 


IX 

REJOICINGS  AND  THANKSGIVINGS 

EA  R  L  Y  in  the  morning  there  was  a  great 
gathering  about  the  hall.  Chieftains 
came  from  far  and  near,  to  hear  the  mar- 
vellous tale,  to  gaze  at  the  loathsome  pro- 
digy. Then  they  took  up  the  vanquished 
monster's  bloody  trail,  and  followed  it  to 
the  Nicors'  Mere,  whither,  death-doomed 
and  fugitive,  he  had  betaken  himself  to 
die.  There  was  the  face  of  the  lake  surg- 
ing with  blood,  the  gruesome  plash  of 
waves  all  turbid  with  reeking  gore.  There 
he  had  yielded  up  his  heathen  soul,  there 
pale-faced  Hela,  the  dread  queen  and 
guardian  of  the  heathen  dead,  received  it. 
After  surveying  the  uncanny  spot,  they 
rode  home  from  the  Mere  in  high  glee,  as 
from  a  pleasure-trip.  Now  and  then  one 
249 


250  Beowulf 

and  the  other  loosened  their  nags  for  a 
gallop,  to  run  a  match  where  the  turf 
looked  smooth  and  inviting.  Then  again 
a  thane  of  the  King's,  his  mind  full  of 
ballads,  stored  with  old-world  tales,  began 
to  compose  Beowulf's  adventure  into  a 
story  on  the  spot,  to  be  sung  later  at  the 
feast,  to  the  sweet-stringed  harp.  Or  yet 
another  compared  him  to  Siegfried,  the 
Dragon-slayer,  the  greatest  hero  of  all 
North  countries. 

Thus,  alternately  racing  and  talking  and 
singing,  they  rode  joyously  back  to  the 
hall,  and  when  they  reached  there,  the  sun 
was  already  high  in  the  sky,  and  crowds 
were  still  flocking  to  Heorot ;  and  the  King 
himself,  with  the  Queen  and  with  a  gor- 
geous following  of  lords  and  ladies,  was 
coming  the  short  way  from  his  palace  to 
view  his  enemy's  monstrous  arm  and  hand 
hanging  from  the  gold-glittering  roof. 

Hrothgar  was  very  different  this  sunny 
morning  from  the  bent  and  sorrow- 
stricken  old  man  who  greeted  Beowulf 
the  night  before  as  his  last  hope  on  earth. 
Right   royal   he   looked   now   in  his  rich 


Rejoicings  and  Thanksgivings     251 

robes  as  he  walked  along  with  head  erect 
and  firm  step,  and  clear,  glad  eye.  He 
stood  awhile,  gazing  silently  on  the  horri- 
ble hand,  with  fiendish  fingers,  and  nails 
straight  and  sharp  like  steel  spikes, — then 
devoutly  raised  his  voice  : 

'*  For  this  sight  thanks  be  given  the 
Almighty !  It  was  but  now  that  I 
thought  I  should  never  see  an  end  of  all 
my  woes — and  now  a  lad,  through  the 
might  of  God,  has  achieved  the  deed 
which  we,  with  all  our  wisdom,  were  un- 
able to  accomplish.  Now  I  will  heartily 
love  thee,  Beowulf,  thou  most  excellent 
youth  !  From  this  day  forth  shalt  thou 
be  to  me  as  my  son ;  thou  shalt  have 
nothing  to  wish  for  in  the  world  so  far  as 
I  have  power.  Full  oft  have  I,  for  far 
less  service,  decreed  great  guerdons  from 
my  treasury.  May  the  Almighty  reward 
thee  always,  as  He  hath  just  done  ! " 

Beowulf  accepted  these  thanks  and 
praises  with  most  becoming  modesty. 
Indeed,  he  rather  apologised  for  having 
let  the  enemy  escape  him  ;  ''  for,"  he  said, 
*'  I  would  have  liked  vastly  better  to  show 


252  Beowulf 

thee  his  very  self,  instead  of  only  his  arm 
and  hand." 

Men,  in  those  days,  were  not,  as  a  rule, 
shy  of  boasting  of  their  valorous  deeds 
and  making  the  most  of  them.  Therefore 
the  young  hero's  quiet  bearing  won  him 
still  heartier  admiration  and  louder  ap- 
plause. One  man  alone  in  all  that  joy- 
ous crowd  kept  silent  and  to  himself — and 
that  was  Unferth,  the  story-teller,  who  had 
given  vent  so  freely  to  his  envious  malice 
at  the  feast.  He  dared  not  now  either 
brag  of  his  own  doings,  or  belittle  Beo- 
wulf's exploit,  and  so  held  his  peace. 
But  in  his  heart,  alone  of  all  men,  he 
grudged  him  his  triumph. 


X 


HEOROT  RESTORED— FEASTING  AND 
GIFTS 

AND  now  orders  were  given  that 
Heorot  should  be  promptly  swept, 
cleansed,  and  decorated  ;  men  and  women 
trooped  in  in  great  numbers  to  do  the 
work.  No  light  work  it  was,  for  the 
whole  interior  of  the  building  was  nearly 
demolished ;  in  fact,  the  roof  alone  es- 
caped quite  unhurt.  Substantial  repairs, 
of  course,  would  take  time  ;  but  the  hall 
must,  be  garnished  and  made  ready  for 
that  day's  banquet.  So  they  hid  the 
walls  with  brocaded  tapestries  which  de- 
lighted the  eye  with  their  pictured 
stories. 

When  the  time  came,   King  Hrothgar 
walked  to  the   Hall,   for  he  intended  to 
253 


254  Beowulf 

share  the  entire  feast  from  beginning  to 
end.  And  never  did  a  braver  throng  of 
revellers  muster  more  merrily  around  the 
feast-giver. 

The  first  beaker  of  sweet  mead  the 
King  drank  to  Beowulf,  and  at  the  same 
time  presented  him  with  a  complete  suit 
of  preciously-wrought,  gold-adorned,  ar- 
mour— helmet,  coat  of  mail,  and  heavy 
battle-sword,  all  from  the  royal  treasury. 
Then,  at  a  sign  from  the  King,  eight  beauti- 
ful horses,  with  cheekplates  of  gold,  were 
led  into  the  hall.  One  of  them  was  gaily 
caparisoned  and  bore  the  King's  own  fa- 
vourite saddle,  all  decorated  with  silver. 
Horse  and  saddle  were  well  known  to  all 
present,  having  been  seen  often  and  often 
both  at  knightly  games  and  in  the  field, 
where  foemen  fell  before  the  royal  rider 
both  in  play  and  in  deadly  earnest.  Arms 
and  horses  the  King  bade  the  young  hero 
have  for  his  own,  and  enjoy  them  well. 

Moreover,  each  one  of  those  who  had 
made  the  voyage  with  Beowulf  received 
some  precious  gift,  some  old  heirloom. 
As  for  the  comrade  whom  Grendel  had 


Heorot  Restored  255 

so  atrociously  killed  and  devoured,  King- 
Hrothgar  gave  order  that  gold  should  be 
brought  from  his  treasury,  to  make  good 
his  loss  to  his  people. 

And  now  the  King  called  aloud  for 
music  and  song.  The  harp  was  struck 
and  Hrothgar's  minstrel  recited  a  ballad, 
often  heard,  but  always  a  favourite,  a  lay 
of  an  old  feud  and  vengeance,  which  made 
the  revellers  realise  the  more  joyfully  their 
deliverance  from  the  tribute  of  blood 
which,  through  so  many  years,  they  had 
unwillingly  paid. 

The  merriment  ran  high,  and  high  rose 
the  sounds  of  revelry  as  the  attendants 
served  the  wine  out  of  curious  flagons. 
When  suddenly  there  was  a  pause  :  Queen 
Wealhtheow  came  forward,  wearing  right 
nobly  her  golden  diadem,  and,  as  the  day 
before,  stood  before  her  lord,  and  spoke  : 

"  Receive  this  beaker,  King  of  the 
Danes  !  Be  merry  thyself,  and  gladden 
those  around  thee  with  gifts  and  gracious 
words.  For  now,  far  and  near,  thou  hast 
peace.  Heorot  is  purged  and  is  once 
more   the  most  splendid   of   banqueting- 


256  Beowulf 

halls.  Dispense,  then,  thy  bounties  while 
thou  mayest,  and  to  thy  children  peace- 
fully leave  folk  and  realm  when  thy  time 
comes  to  pass  into  eternity." 

She  turned  then  towards  the  bench 
where  her  young  sons  sat.  And  there, 
by  the  two  brothers,  Beowulf  modestly 
sat  among  the  youth  of  the  land,  separ- 
ate from  the  elders  and  mighty  men. 
To  him  the  Queen  offered  the  beaker, 
with  friendly  words,  inviting  him  to  drink, 
then  presented  him  with  her  own  special 
gifts  :  a  rich  mantle,  armlets  of  twisted 
gold,  and  rings,  and — crowning  gift  of  all 
— a  jewelled  carcanet,  the  most  gorgeous 
piece  of  jeweller's  work  ever  seen  under 
the  sun. 

*'  Wear  this  collar,  Beowulf,  beloved 
youth,"  the  Queen  said,  "  and  make  use 
of  this  mantle — stately  possessions  both — 
Prosper  well,  win  more  and  more  fame  by 
thy  valour,  and  to  these  my  boys  be  true 
friend  and  kind  adviser.  Thou  hast  done 
that  which  will  make  thee  the  theme  of 
minstrels'  song,  far  and  near,  for  all 
time.     Be  then,  whilst  thou  livest,  a  happy 


Heorot  Restored  257 

prince,  and  loyal  to  my  sons  In  word  and 
deed.  For  such  is  the  manner  of  our 
land  :  here  is  each  warrior  to  other  true,, 
loyal  to  their  chief  ;  the  thanes  obedient, 
the  people  willing.  And  now,  I  bid  ye 
all — be  merry  !  " 

With  that  she  walked  to  her  chair,  and 
music  once  more  filled  the  hall,  and  wine 
flowed  freely.  No  thought  was  there  of 
evil  to  come,  only  of  the  evil  from  which 
they  deemed  that  they  were  freed  for- 
ever :  for  who  ever  hears  the  fiat  of  des- 
tiny as  it  goes  forth  ?  .  .  .  And  so  the 
evening  came,  and  Hrothgar  betook  him 
to  his  rest. 

Silence  fell  upon  Heorot ;  the  festive 
sounds  died  out.  For  the  first  time  in 
many  years,  the  hall  was  not  deserted  for 
the  night ;  the  ethelings  stayed  to  guard 
it  as  they  had  often  done  in  earlier  times. 
The  benches  were  cleared  away  against 
the  walls ;  beds  and  bolsters  were  laid  in 
rows  upon  the  floor,  and  the  revellers  laid 
themselves  down  to  rest,  happy  and  at 
peace.  Yet  did  one  among  them  lie  down 
that  night  a  doomed  man,  and  knew  it  not. 


258 


Beowulf 


At  their  heads  they  set  up  their  bright 
bucklers ;  on  the  benches,  plain  in  sight, 
lay  each  etheling's  helmet  and  mail-shirt, 
and  against  them  stood  the  strong-shafted 
lances.  For  such  was  their  custom — to 
be  at  all  times  ready  for  war,  whether  at 
home  or  in  the  field,  wherever  their  liege 
lord  might  have  need  of  their  services. 
Truly  a  brave  and  noble  people ! 


LAY    II 

GRENDEL'S  MOTHER 

I 

THE  AVENGER 

SO  they  sank  down  to  sleep.  One  there 
was  who  sorely  paid  for  that  night's 
rest.  For  ere  morning  it  was  found  that 
Grendel  had  left  an  avenger — his  mother, 
the  Mere-wife,  loathsome  beldame,  a  creat- 
ure that  had  to  dwell  in  the  dreariness  of 
marshes  and  cold  streams,  like  all  the  rest 
of  Cain's  murderous,  outlawed  brood. 
That  very  night  the  hag,  on  bloody  ven- 
geance bent,  betook  herself  to  Heorot, 
where  the  Danes  slept  careless,  all  un- 
conscious. Who  shall  paint  their  horror 
and  dismay  when  the  goblin-wife  suddenly 
burst  into  their  midst?  Swords  were 
259 


26o  Beowulf 

drawn  and  bucklers  raised,  but  there  was 
no  time  to  think  of  helmet  or  mail-shirt. 

The  hag  was  in  a  hurry  ;  finding  herself 
discovered,  all  she  thought  of  was  to 
get  away  with  her  life.  So  she  quickly 
snatched  up  one  of  the  ethelings  at  ran- 
dom, and  gripping  him  tight,  made  for 
the  fen.  That  man  was  Hrothgar  s  dear- 
est comrade,  most  constant  companion — 
sad  end  for  an  illustrious  warrior  !  But 
hurried  as  she  was,  the  hag  managed  to 
carry  away  with  her  Grendel's  arm  and 
hand.  A  great  cry  went  up  from  Heorot, 
and  reached  the  aged  King,  who  was 
startled  out  of  his  sleep  by  the  news  that 
the  old  horror  was  revived,  and  that  the 
man  dearest  to  his  heart  was  dead. 

Beowulf  was  not  there.  No  one  thought 
that  his  prowess  should  be  needed  again  ; 
so,  as  he  was  in  want  of  rest  after  his  last 
night's  exertions,  he  and  his  companions 
had  been  assigned  a  lodging  at  some  dis- 
tance, and  they  knew  nothing  of  what  had 
happened.  Bright  and  early,  he  and  his 
little  band,  rested,  cheery,  marched  to  the 
palace,  straight  to  the  King's  apartment, 


The  Avenger  261 

the  floor-timbers  resounding  under  their 
tread,  and,  courteously  accosting  him,  en- 
quired if,  according  to  their  sincere  wish, 
he  had  had  a  restful  night. 

Great  was  their  astonishment  to  find  the 
King  more  deeply  dejected  than  ever,  the 
tears  coursing  down  his  withered  cheeks, 
and  to  hear  his  heart-broken  answer  : 

''  Speak  not  of  rest  to  me  !  New  grief 
has  come  over  the  Danes,  ^schere  is 
dead,  my  friend  and  counsellor,  my  trusty 
body-squire,  who  has  stood  with  me, 
shoulder  to  shoulder,  in  battle,  a  hundred 
times.  In  Heorot  has  he  met  his  death 
at  the  hands  of  another  raging  fiend. 
Yesternight  didst  thou  overcome  Grendel 
in  deadly  fight,  and  now  his  mother  comes 
to  avenge  her  kin  !  I  know  not  in  what 
direction  she  took  her  way,  but  her  tracks 
will  show.  I  will  be  bound  they  lead  us 
no  farther  than  the  Mere,  a  few  miles 
from  here — an  uncanny  water — wolf-crags, 
windy  bluffs,  woods  with  gnarled,  inter- 
twined roots  overhang  it.  A  precipitous 
mountain  waterfall  vanishes  into  the  earth, 
and  flows  on,  an  underground  river.     And 


262  Beowulf 

on  the  Mere  itself,  every  night,  a  fearful 
portent  may  be  seen  :  fire  playing  on  the 
water.  The  man  liveth  not  who  knows 
the  depth  of  that  mere.  The  antlered 
hart,  as  he  makes  for  the  wood  coverts, 
harried  by  hounds,  will  sooner  give  up 
life  on  the  bank,  than  plunge  his  head 
into  the  unhallowed  flood.  Now  it  is 
once  more  to  thee  alone  that  we  look 
for  counsel !  Thou  knowest  not  yet  the 
dreadful  haunt — go  seek  it  if  thou  dare  ! 
I  will  reward  thee  with  treasure  to  thy 
heart's  content,  if  so  thou  comest  away 
alive." 

Beowulf  answered  straightway,  and  his 
brave  words  fell  like  balm  on  Hrothgar  s 
dejected  spirits : 

''  Cease  sorrowing,  wise  sire  !  Aveng- 
ing a  friend  is  better  than  mourning  for 
him.  Arouse  thee  !  let  us  promptly  set 
out  to  find  the  trail  of  this  new  terror.  I 
vow  to  thee  she  shall  not  escape  ;  neither 
in  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  nor  in  the 
haunted  woods,  nor  in  ocean's  depth — go 
where  she  will !  Have  patience  but  this 
one  day,  and  all  thy  woes  shall  end." 


II 


THE  MERE 


UP  sprang  then  the  aged  King,  thank- 
ing God  for  the  hero's  words,  which 
filled  him  with  new  vigour.  He  mounted 
his  charger,  a  stately  high-stepper  with 
wavy,  flowing  mane,  and  rode  forth  with 
Beowulf  and  the  mixed  band  of  Danes  and 
Goths,  the  foot-force  of  shield-bearing  men 
marching  behind.  The  track  lay  broad 
and  plain  over  the  ground,  down  the 
slope — straight  across  the  murky  moor. 

Lightly  did  Beowulf  step  over  steep 
stone-banks,  narrow  gullies,  lonesome, 
untravelled  paths,  sheer  bluffs,  under  many 
of  which  were  deep  caverns,  the  dwelling- 
place  of  nicors.  With  a  few  tried  men 
he  went  forward,  exploring  the  ground, 
until  all  of  a  sudden  he  perceived  the 
263 


264  Beowulf 

gloomy  trees  overhanging  the  grisly  rock 
of  which  Hrothgar  had  spoken — a  cheer- 
less wood  ;  beneath  it  a  standing  water, 
dreary  and  troubled.  The  whole  scene 
was  so  desolate  and  eerie  that  it  made 
the  Danes  shudder  ;  horror  seized  them 
as  they  looked,  for  on  that  cliff  they  came 
on  the  head  of  ^schere  in  a  pool  of 
blood. 

The  horn  sounded  from  time  to  time 
a  spirited  blast  to  keep  them  together. 
But  they  had  little  wish  to  stray.  They 
all  sat  down  on  the  ground,  terrified,  yet 
curious  for  the  weird  sights  of  the  Mere  : 
they  saw  gliding  along  the  water  many 
shapes  of  serpent  kind,  monstrous  sea- 
snakes  at  their  swimming  gambols  ;  like- 
wise nicors  lying  lazily  on  the  jutting 
slopes, — the  water-goblins  which  often,  of 
an  early  morning,  churn  up  the  waves  to 
make  disastrous  sailing  for  voyagers,— 
dragons,  and  other  strange  beasts  tumbled 
about,  then  hurried  away  with  eye  of  spite 
and  body  swelling  with  rage  at  being  dis- 
turbed by  the  clarion's  clang  and  the 
intrusion  of  men.     Beowulf,  with  an  arrow 


The  Mere  265 

from  his  bow,  picked  off  one  of  the  mon- 
sters, which  was  swiftly  pulled  out  on 
land  ;  his  swimming  days  were  over,  his 
tricks  ended. 

But  this  was  play.  The  business  of  the 
day  was  now  to  come,  and  Beowulf  be- 
gan to  prepare  for  it.  Piece  by  piece  he 
donned  his  princely  armour,  which  was 
to  stand  the  novel  test  of  deadly  battle 
in  the  waters  of  the  unholy  lake.  Most 
anxiously  did  his  friends,  both  Danes  and 
Goths,  watch  and  assist  him  as  he  silently 
armed,  with  brow  and  mouth  firmly  set 
under  the  helmet,  for  well  they  knew  that 
the  contest  he  was  now  going  to  engage 
in  was  far  more  dangerous  than  that  in 
which  he  had  but  lately  ventured  life  and 
limb.  Even  Unferth,  the  unmannerly, 
forgot  what  he  had  recently  uttered  when 
flushed  with  ale — or  perchance  he  wished 
to  atone  for  past  ill-will  by  present  service. 
Enough,  he  pressed  to  Beowulf's  side, 
and  placed  in  his  hand  a  wonderful  sword, 
an  old  heirloom  of  his  house,  most  highly 
prized  of  all  his  possessions.  That  precious 
blade,   like    other   famed    swords  belong- 


266 


Beowulf 


ing  to  mighty  heroes,  had  a  name  of  its 
own,  Hke  a  human  friend  :  it  was  called 
Hrunting.  The  edge  of  the  blade  was 
iron,  welded  onto  the  brass,  mottled  with 
poison,  and  hardened  in  the  gore  of  many- 
battles.  Never  had  it  proved  false  to  him 
who  wielded  it ;  this  was  not  the  first  time 
that  heroic  work  had  been  required  of  it. 


Ill 

UNDER  THE  WATERS 

AND  now  Beowulf  stood  armed,  and 
ready  for  the  fray.  But  before  he 
went  whence  he  might  not  come  back,  he 
turned  to  King  Hrothgar  and  once  again 
repeated  the  request  he  had  made  before 
he  remained  in  Heorot  to  await  the  com- 
ing of  Grendel : 

**  See  now,  O  wise  King,  I  am  ready  to 
start.  Bethink  thee  of  what  we  lately 
talked  of  :  that,  should  I  lose  my  life  in 
thy  service,  thou  shouldst,  after  my  death, 
fulfil  my  wishes  even  as  my  own  father 
would.  They  are  but  few  and  easily  re- 
membered :  be  thou  friend  and  protector 
to  my  thanes  when  I  am  gone,  and  send 
the  presents  thou  hast  given  me  to  Hyge- 
lac ;  so  will  he  see  for  himself  that  I  had 
267 


268  Beowulf 

found  a  bountiful  friend.  And  let  Unferth 
keep  my  own  heirloom,  my  curiously 
damaskeened  sword,  Hardedge.  With 
Hrunting  I  will  either  achieve  renown  or 
find  my  death." 

He  said,  and,  waiting  for  no  answer, 
leaped  from  the  bluff — the  eddying  flood 
engulfed  him.  So  deep  was  the  mere, 
that  it  took  some  time  before,  sinking,  he 
reached  the  bottom. 

Soon  the  grim  creature  that  for  a  hund- 
red seasons  had  kept  house  in  the  watery 
realm  perceived  that  one  of  the  children 
of  men  was  coming  from  above,  exploring 
the  goblins'  home.  She  made  a  grab  at 
him  and  clutched  him  in  her  grisly  talons, 
but  could  not  pierce  the  well-knit  ring 
mail  which  fenced  him  around.  But  she 
bore  him  to  her  mansion  at  the  bottom  of 
the  lake,  so  swiftly  that,  although  his 
heart  did  not  fail,  he  was  powerless  to  use 
his  weapons,  the  more  that  countless 
water-beasts  harassed  him  in  swimming, 
battering  at  him  with  tusk  and  claw. 

At  length  the  earl  felt  the  grip  loosened 
on  him,  and  as  he  hurriedly  cast  his  eye 


y      i 


Under  the  Waters  269 

around,  he  perceived  that  he  was  in  a  vast 
hall,  high-roofed,  and  protected  from  the 
water  on  all  sides  ;  it  was  light,  too,  with 
an  eerie,  bright  lustre,  something  like  fire- 
light. But  the  hero  had  no  time  for  won- 
der or  exploring ;  for  before  him  stood 
the  grim  she-wolf  of  the  abyss,  and  it  be- 
hoved him  to  be  quick  in  attack.  Grasp- 
ing Hrunting,  he  whirled  it  around  her 
head  ;  but  when  it  descended  to  strike, 
he  found,  to  his  dismay,  that  the  edge  did 
not  bite ;  for  the  first  time  the  costly 
blade  failed  the  master  at  his  need.  With 
prompt  decision  he  angrily  flung  it  away, 
and  once  again  trusting  wholly  to  his 
own  strength,  seized  the  hag  by  the 
shoulder,  and  swayed  her  so  violently  in 
his  rage  that  she  sank  to  the  pavement. 
She  swiftly  repaid  him  and  closed  in  upon 
him,  crushing  the  wind  out  of  his  body, 
so  that  he,  fearless  as  he  was,  staggered 
from  sheer  breathlessness  and  fell  pro- 
strate. Then  the  hag  sat  upon  his  back 
and  drew  her  broad  knife,  and  her  goblin 
son  would  have  been  avenged  then  and 
there,  but   that    Beowulf's  mail-shirt  was 


270  Beowulf 

proof  against  point  and  edge,  which  gave 
him  time  for  a  last  mighty  effort  to  throw 
off  the  hindering  weight, — and  presently 
he  stood  once  more  erect  on  his  feet. 

Still,  even  then  his  life  might  have  been 
forfeit  in  the  unequal  combat,  had  he  not 
chanced  to  espy  among  the  armour  lying 
scattered  about  the  hall,  an  old  cutlass  of 
huge  size  and  strength  of  blade,  larger 
than  an  ordinary  man  could  have  carried, 
let  alone  used  in  battle, — the  handiwork  of 
giants.  On  this  Beowulf  blindly  seized — 
beside  himself,  despairing  of  his  life — and 
struck  in  his  fury  ;  the  blow  caught  the 
beldame  in  the  neck,  severed  the  bone, 
she  dropped  on  the  pavement, — the  work 
was  done. 

He  was  alone.  He  now  had  leisure  to 
scan  the  apartment  with  his  eye  ;  he  slowly 
walked  all  round '  it,  along  by  the  wall, 
the  magic  weapon  swung  aloft  by  the  hilt, 
for  fear  of  surprises.  Suddenly,  he  came 
upon  a  hideous  object — Grendel,  bereft 
of  life,  lying  where  he  fell,  as  he  reached 
his  lake  home  on  that  fatal  night.  The 
hero's  blood  boiled  at  the  sight;  he  at 


Under  the  Waters  271 

once  decided  he  would  bring  back  to  the 
upper  world  a  better  trophy  than  a  hand 
and  arm  :  so,  raising  high  the  cutlass,  he 
struck  off  the  head. 

Then,  before  his  eyes,  there  came  to 
pass  a  thing  whereat  he  marvelled  much  ; 
no  sooner  had  the  blade  touched  the  mon- 
ster's black  gore,  than  it  began  to  melt 
away,  even  as  ice  when  the  spring 
breathes  upon  it,  dissolving  the  fetters  of 
the  torrent ;  and  even  as  he  looked,  it 
melted  all  to  naught,  down  to  the  hilt  in 
his  hand — so  venomous  and  consuming 
had  been  the  goblin's  life-blood  ! 

There  were  many  rare  arms  and  trinkets 
in  that  wondrous  water  hall ;  but  Beowulf 
only  glanced  at  them  and  would  not  bur- 
den himself  with  aught  save  the  head,  and 
the  hilt  of  the  burned-up  cutlass,  which  he 
wanted  to  show  and  keep  as  a  curiosity. 
Nor  would  he  leave  Hrunting  below,  since 
the  good  sword  did  not  belong  to  him. 


IV 

THE  RETURN 

MEANWHILE  the  hours  waxed  long 
to  the  watchers  above.  Hrothgar 
and  his  men  sat  in  the  same  spot  still,  in- 
tently gazing  on  the  water.  The  old  men 
with  grizzled  locks  spoke  together  in  low 
tones  about  the  brave  etheling,  how  they 
did  not  expect  that  he  should  ever  come 
back  to  them  ;  and  when  they  saw  the 
waves  splashing  turbid  and  tinged  with 
blood,  most  of  them  decided  that  the  she- 
wolf  of  the  Mere  had  torn  him  to  pieces. 

It  was  the  ninth  hour  of  the  day.  The 
impetuous  Danes  gave  him  up  for  lost  and 
quitted  the  bluff  ;  King  Hrothgar  followed 
them  with  heavy  heart.  They  did  not 
doubt  but  that  they  had  lost  their  hero- 
friend,  and  the  nightly  ravages  would 
272 


The  Return  273 

commence  again.  But  the  Goths  would 
not  go.  Sick  at  heart  they  sat  on,  and 
gazed  upon  the  dreadful  pool.  They  did 
not  expect  to  ever  again  get  sight  of  their 
lord  and  captain  in  the  body,  yet  they 
kept  on  wishing,  and  secretly  hoping  :  for 
was  he  not  o^reater  and  braver  than  all 
other  men  ?  No  other  would  have  even 
dreamed  of  plunging  into  such  an  ad- 
venture. 

And  lo  !  what  was  that  ?  something  in 
the  distance,  moving  on  the  water  !  Water- 
beast  it  could  not  be,  for  they  had  all 
slunk  away  when  man  and  goblin-wife  met, 
and  kept  in  hiding,  waiting  for  the  end. 
It  was — yes,  it  was  the  leader  !  Soon  they 
could  see  him  plainly,  as  he  came  swim- 
ming bravely  along.  He  shouted  to  them. 
They  answered  with  a  cry  which  must  have 
been  heard  half-way  to  Heorot.  Then 
he  came  to  land,  exulting  in  his  lake 
spoils.  His  faithful  thanes  ran  to  meet 
him,  thanking  God  that  they  had  him 
back,  whole  and  sound.  They  pressed 
around,  vieing  who  should  relieve  him  of 
his  helmet,  his  mail-shirt.      From  the  mo- 


2  74  Beowulf 

ment  he  stepped  on  land,  the  Mere  sul- 
lenly subsided,  grey  and  heavy,  leaden 
water  under  leaden  sky. 

And  now  Beowulf  and  his  band  pre- 
pared to  retrace  their  steps,  for  they  had 
quite  a  long  way  to  march  across  country 
and  along  the  public  highways.  So  they 
formed  into  a  triumphal  procession,  to 
bear  away  Grendel's  head  from  the  Mere- 
cliff  :  it  took  four  of  the  lusty  and  stal- 
wart fellows  to  carry  it  on  a  pole,  and  the 
burden  taxed  their  strength  to  the  ut- 
most ;  so  that,  when  they  reached  the 
great  hall,  gold-glittering  in  the  sunshine, 
they  were  glad  to  lay  it  down  on  the 
ground.  Then  others  of  their  comrades 
took  it  up  and  carried  it  by  the  hair  into 
the  midst  of  the  assembled  Danes.  Their 
captain  was  just  greeting  the  King,  but 
all  sprang  to  their  feet ;  even  to  Hrothgar 
and  the  Queen,  startled  out  of  ceremony 
by  the  unexpected  sight  of  the  horrible 
object. 


LAST  WORDS 

WHEN  some  sort  of  order  had  been 
restored,  Beowulf,  with  his  wonted 
modest  dignity,  gave  the  King  a  brief 
account  of  his  last  and  most  deadly  en- 
counter : 

"  Lo  and  behold !  to  thee,  O  Lord  of 
the  Skyldings,  we  have  joyfully  brought 
these  Mere-spoils  that  thou  lookest  on, 
in  token  that  what  we  came  to  do  is  done. 
Not  easily  did  I  come  out  of  it  with  life. 
In  the  battle  under  water  well-nigh  had 
the  struggle  gone  against  me,  only  that 
God  shielded  me.  I  could  not,  in  the 
final  test,  accomplish  aught  with  Hrunt- 
ing,  though  it  be  a  good  weapon,  too. 
But  the  Ruler  of  men  directed  my  eye 
.to  the  wall,  where  it  was  caught  by  the 

275 


276  Beowulf 

gleam  of  an  old  sword  of  huge  size, 
whereat  I  grasped,  blindly.  Thus  oftenest 
hath  He  guided  men  when  they  have  no 
other  friend.  With  that  sword — occasion 
favouring  me, — I  smote  the  keepers  of  the 
Mere-house,  the  living  and  the  dead.  So 
hot  and  poisonous  was  that  accursed 
blood,  that  it  consumed  the  blade,  as  thou 
canst  see.  I  brought  away  the  hilt  as  a 
trophy.  And  now  that  I  have  avenged 
the  long  agonies  of  the  Danes  as  was 
meet,  I  promise  thee  that  thou  mayest 
sleep  henceforth  in  Heorot  free  from  care  ; 
and  so  may  every  one  of  the  thanes,  old 
and  young,  and  thou  needest  not  fear  for 
them  any  kind  of  danger,  as  thou  didst  so 
long." 

The  oldest  and  wisest  among  the  war- 
riors marvelled  much  to  hear  so  wise  a 
speech  from  lips  so  young.  That  in  the 
heat  of  victory,  hard-won,  single-handed^ 
the  noble  champion  should  remember  to 
give  thanks  where  alone  man's  thanks 
are  due,  and  should  generously  share  the 
credit  with  his  comrades,  pleased  King 
Hrothgar  greatly.     With  kindly  smile  he 


Last  Words  277 

took  the  gilded,  bladeless  hilt  into  his 
hand  and  examined  it  intently.  It  was 
well  worth  the  study,  this  relic  of  heathen 
times  immemorial,  the  workmanship  of 
giants.  The  mystic  smiths  had  graven 
much  ancient  lore  on  it  in  quaint  old 
characters,  looking  like  small  staves  oddly 
thrown  together,  and  long  held  sacred  by 
learned  men,  who  called  them  "  Runes." 
Hrothgar,  who,  though  himself  a  fervent 
Christian,  was  well  versed  in  the  ancient 
heathen  lore  of  his  people,  easily  read  the 
storied  gold  of  the  hilt.  Upon  it  was 
written  the  history  of  the  primeval  quar- 
rel between  the  bright,  beneficent  gods 
and  the  perverse  race  of  giants,  and  of 
the  war  between  them,  in  which  the  wicked 
giants  did  their  worst,  by  force  and  wile, 
to  destroy  the  beautiful  world,  the  creation 
of  the  gods,  until  the  latter  sent  a  great 
flood,  and  the  giant's  brood  perished. 
Likewise  was  it  set  down  in  runes  on  a 
part  of  the  mounting,  for  whom  that  sword 
had  first  been  worked  with  its  dragon 
ornament. 

When  he  had  examined  the  curious  relic 


278  Beowulf 

at  his  leisure,  King  Hrothgar  returned  it 
to  the  youth,  and  bending  on  him  his 
kindest  glance,  he  spoke  to  him, — while 
all  around  respectfully  held  their  peace, — 
out  of  the  fulness  of  his  heart  and  of  his 
long-hoarded  wisdom,  such  words  as  only 
a  father  speaks  to  a  well-beloved  son,  when 
he  sends  him  forth  to  fare  for  himself  in 
the  wide  and  dangerous  world.  For  well 
he  knew  that  the  hero,  his  mission  done, 
would  leave  him  very  soon,  to  continue 
his  adventurous  career,  wherever  it  might 
call  him,  and  his  heart  ached  to  let  him 
go  ;  he  would  fain  have  warned  him  of  all 
that  might  befall  him  on  his  way,  and 
given  him  his  own  treasure  of  experience 
to  guide  and  to  shield  him, — above  all 
against  the  dangers  and  snares  of  his  own 
untamed  nature. 

**  Thy  fame,  friend  Beowulf,"  the  King 
began,  ''will  spread  after  this  to  every 
land,  over  every  nation.  Thou  dost  withal 
carry  thy  prowess  modestly,  with  discre- 
tion of  mind.  Thou  art  fated  to  prove 
a  comfort  sure  and  lasting  to  thy  men,  a 
help  to  mankind." 


Last  Words  279 

Here  the  King  recalled,  as  a  warning 
example,  the  fate  of  Heremod,  the  bad 
king,  who  had  lost  the  people's  hearts 
through  his  arrogance  and  cruelty,  and 
whom  his  (Hrothgar's),  own  ancestor, 
Skyld  of  the  Sheaf,  had  displaced. 

**  Do  thou  take  warning  by  that ! "  he 
continued.  '*  It  is  for  thy  benefit  that  I, 
being  old  in  years  and  experience,  have 
told  this  tale.  For,  how  many  a  time  do 
we  not  see  a  man  of  noble  race  who 
dwelleth  in  prosperity,  with  nothing  to 
annoy  him,  no  care  nor  quarrel  on  any 
side,  but  all  the  world  seems  to  move  to 
his  mind.  Until,  at  length,  within  the 
man  himself  something  of  arrogancy  grows 
and  develops.  Then  sleepeth  the  heavenly 
guardian,  the  soul's  keeper ;  the  foe  is 
very  near,  and  the  man  yields  to  the 
crooked  counsels  of  the  accursed  spirit ; 
he  fancies  that  all  is  too  little  that  he  has 
so  long  enjoyed  ;  he  grows  covetous  and 
malignant,  and  grudges  to  share  his  wealth 
with  his  friends.  He  too  lightly  considers 
how  that  it  was  God  the  Dispenser  who 
placed  him  in  his  post  of  dignity.     And 


28o  Beowulf 

then  the  end  comes  ;  another  fills  his  room 
who  makes  better  use  of  his  wealth — he 
is  forgotten.  Beware  of  such  a  fall,  Beo- 
wulf, beloved  youth,  and  choose  for  thyself 
the  better  course.  Now  is  thy  strength 
in  full  bloom  for  a  while.  Soon  it  may 
betide  that  sickness  or  the  sword  will  be- 
reave thee  of  it;  fire  or  flood,  stab  of 
knife,  or  flight  of  spear — anything  at  any 
time  may  mar  and  darken  all,  and  Death 
subdue  thee,  leader  of  men  though  thou 
art !  Look  at  me :  did  I  not  for  fifty 
years  reign  prosperously  over  the  Danes, 
and  by  valour  make  them  secure  against 
many  a  nation,  insomuch  that  I  dreaded 
no  rival  under  the  circuit  of  the  sky  ? 
Yet  how  suddenly  a  change  came  over  all 
that ;  here  in  my  own  hall,  the  abominable 
Grendel  bearded  and  despoiled  me,  and 
for  years  my  heart  carried  its  load  of  grief. 
Thanks,  therefore,  be  to  the  Eternal  Ruler 
for  what  I  have  lived  to  see — that  I,  the 
old  tribulation  past,  with  mine  own  eyes 
should  gaze  upon  yon  severed  head  ! — And 
now  go,  sit  thee  down,  share  the  festive 
joy,   crowned  with   the   honours   of   war. 


Last  Words  281 

To-morrow  we  must  yet  have  many  deal- 
ings together." 

Beowulf  had  listened,  with  beseeming 
earnestness  and  reverence,  nor  did  the 
aged  king's  wise  instruction  fall  on  barren 
soil.  But  he  was  very  tired  :  so  he  moved 
briskly  off  and  sat  down,  nothing  loth,  on 
one  of  the  benches.  Then  the  tables  were 
cleared  and  re-spread,  and  a  fair,  fresh 
banquet  served. 

Not  till  the  night's  dim  covering  began 
to  descend  over  the  light-hearted  revellers 
did  the  venerable  Skylding  arise  and  give 
the  signal  for  bed.  After  him  the  elders. 
Vastly  well  did  the  hero  of  the  day  like 
the  thought  of  repose — he  had  enough  of 
adventure  for  a  while !  He  was  mar- 
shalled to  his  room  with  much  ceremony 
by  a  chamberlain,  who  supplied  him  with 
all  things  needful  for  a  luxurious  night's 
rest.  And  he  slept !  slept  till  the  black  ra- 
ven announced  heaven's  glory  with  blithe 
heart,  and  the  light  drove  the  shadow^s 
away,  and  fiends  that  prowl  of  nights 
scampered  off  and  hid. 

When  he  came  forth  from  his  sleeping- 


282  Beowulf 

chamber,  he  found  his  comrades  all  ready 
for  the  voyage.  They  were  impatient  to 
take  ship  for  home. 

Beowulf  bade  courteous  farewell  to  his 
Danish  friends,  and  when  the  turn  of  Un- 
ferth  came,  he  returned  Hrunting  to  him 
with  hearty  thanks  for  the  loan ;  with 
never  a  word  did  he  blame  the  blade  that 
had  played  him  false,  but  on  the  contrary 
praised  it  for  a  good  sword,  a  good  friend 
in  war.  Thus  are  high-souled  men  ever 
courteous  and  mindful  of  other  men's 
feelings. 


VI 

HOMEWARD  BOUND 

ONLY  when  the  departing  warriors 
were  fully  equipped  and  ready  to 
start,  did  Beowulf  approach  the  raised 
platform  where  Hrothgar  sat,  to  take  lov- 
ing leave  of  him. 

'*  Now,"  he  began,  **we  sea-voyagers 
have  come  to  say  that  we  purpose  this 
very  day  to  return  to^  Hygelac.  Here  we 
have  been  well  entertained,  and  thou  hast 
been  to  us  very  generous.  If  I  therefore 
may  in  any  way  be  of  use  to  thee,  even 
though  it  require  labour  beyond  what  I 
have  yet  done,  I  shall  be  forthwith  on 
hand.  If  they  bring  me  word  across  the 
seas  that  thou  art  hard  pressed  by  neigh- 
bours, I  will  at  once  bring  thee  a  thousand 
thanes  to  help.  And  Hygelac,  I  know. 
283 


284  Beowulf 

albeit  young  in  years,  will  bear  me  out  in 
this,  and  send  me  over  with  a  forest  of 
spears,  shouldst  thou  have  need  of  them." 

The  old  King  was  deeply  moved  as  he 
made  answer  : 

"  The  All-wise  Lord  himself,  puts  such 
thoughts  into  thy  mind.  Never  have  I 
heard  one  so  young  in  years  discourse  such 
sweet  and  reasonable  speech.  I  think  it 
very  likely  that^  should  sickness  or  iron 
take  thy  chief  from  this  life,  the  seafaring 
Goths  will  find  no  better  man  than  thy- 
self to  be  their  king.  Thou  hast  my  best 
wishes,  beloved  Beowulf,  for  I  like  thee 
more  and  more.  Thou  hast  done  that 
which  will  make  the  Danes  and  the  Goths 
friends  forevermore.  While  I  rule  this 
realm,  the  two  nations  shall  have  all  things 
in  common,  and  ships  shall  bring  back  and 
forward,  not  men  armed  for  war,  but  pres- 
ents and  tokens  of  love." 

King  Hrothgar  rose  from  his  chair  of 
state  and  pressed  on  his  young  friend 
twelve  more  priceless  jewels,  bidding  him 
go  with  God  and  visit  his  people,  but 
come  back  again  soon.      He  clasped  him 


Homeward  Bound  285 

by  the  neck,  tears  coursing  down  his 
cheeks  into  his  long  grey  beard.  To  him 
the  youth  was  so  dear  that  he  could  not 
restrain  the  passion  of  his  sorrow  at  part- 
ing from  him,  for,  in  spite  of  his  cheery 
words,  there  was  that  in  his  breast  which 
warned  him  that  they  two  were  not  to 
meet  again. 

Beowulf,  being  young,  was  not  much 
disturbed  by  forebodings,  and  when  he  left 
the  hall,  his  foot  trod  the  grassy  earth 
with  the  firm  step  of  conscious  power. 
As  he  and  his  gallant  troop  neared  the 
water,  where  their  well-guarded  ship 
awaited  them,  the  coast-warden  marked 
their  approach,  as  he  had  done  at  their 
coming ;  but  there  was  no  suspicion  now 
in  his  mind  or  manner,  as  he  hailed  them 
from  his  high  peak  and  rode  down  swiftly 
towards  them.  The  beach  was  all  alive  as 
the  Goths  proceeded,  with  right  good  will, 
to  load  the  good  ship  with  the  war  har- 
ness, the  horses,  and  all  the  treasures  from 
Hrothgar's  hoard.  Winds  and  waves 
seemed  to  favour  their  impatience,  and 
sail  and  oars  carried  them  smoothly  over 


286  Beowulf 

the  foamy  swell,  till  they  were  able  to 
espy  the  familiar  cliffs  and  headlands  of 
the  Gothic  shore.  And  now  the  keel 
grated  on  the  sand,  the  wind  pushing  from 
behind — she  was  on  land. 

The  warden  was  ready  to  receive  the 
seafarers  at  the  landing  ;  he  had  hardly 
left  the  water  s  edge,  so  anxiously  had  he 
been  looking  for  the  dear  friends  who 
had  left  him  on  so  perilous,  uncertain  a 
venture.  And  now  he  helped  to  bind  the 
ship  fast  with  strong  anchor  cables,  lest  a 
sudden  storm  might  snatch  her  away,  and 
hastened  to  give  orders  to  carry  ashore 
the  princely  cargo. 


VII 

AT  HOME 

THEY  had  not  far  to  go,  for  King  Hy- 
gelac,  son  of  Hrethel,  had  his  palace, 
where  he  held  court  with  his  peers,  within 
sight  of  the  sea.  There  he  dwelt  happily 
with  his  Queen,  fair  Hygd,  who,  though 
she  was  very  young,  and  had  lived  but  few 
winters  in  her  lord's  castle,  was  wise  and 
of  excellent  discretion,  yet  not  mean-spir- 
ited, nor  grudging  of  gifts  to  the  thanes 
and  ethelings — very  different  in  all  her 
ways  from  another  young  princess  of  the 
Goths,  Thrytho,  the  moody  and  the  proud, 
even  to  savagery  ;  so  arrogant  and  fierce 
that  no  man,  not  even  her  favourites 
among  the  courtiers,  durst  look  in  her 
eyes,  but  he  was  sure  to  be  taken  and 
2S7 


288  Beowulf 

bound  by  her  order,  and  the  knife  was 
quick  to  follow  arrest.  Well  did  nobles 
and  people  murmur,  and  whisper  among 
themselves  that  such  manner  was  not 
queenly,  nor  womanly,  for  any  lady  to 
practise,  although  peerless  of  form  and 
feature  ;  for  woman  should  ever  be  a  peace- 
maker, and  not  a  taker  of  men's  lives — on 
false  pretences  too.  But  no  one  dared  to 
speak  aloud  what  all  thought  in  their  se- 
cret hearts.  So  everybody  was  glad  ex- 
ceedingly w^hen  Thrytho  was  sent  off  to 
Angle-land,  there  to  wed  the  great  Offa, 
King  of  Mercia,  the  most  powerful  of  the 
seven  kingdoms.  Soon  after,  however, 
those  who  drink  at  the  ale-benches  began 
to  tell  a  different  tale,  how  that  she  had 
left  off  her  evil  ways  from  the  moment 
that  she  reached  Offa's  hall  after  her  long 
sea-voyage  and  been  given,  gold-adorned, 
into  the  noble  and  brave  king's  keeping  ; 
and  ever  since,  as  long  as  she  lived  in  her 
royal  state,  she  was  famed  for  her  kindness 
and  gentleness ;  she  w^on  and  kept  the 
love  of  that  most  excellent  ruler  between 
the  seas — for  minstrels  tell  us  that  Offa 


At  Home  289 

was  as  famous  for  his  courtly  grace  and 
knightly  accomplishments  as  for  his  feats 
of  war.^ 

Beowulf's  arrival  was  promptly  made 
known  to  Hygelac.  Good  news  in  truth, 
he  thought,  that  his  dear  companion,  his 
playfellow  of  yore,  was  coming  back  to 
him  alive  and  unhurt.  Quickly,  at  his 
command,  the  interior  of  the  hall  was 
cleared  for  the  home-coming  travellers. 

Beowulf  sat  by  the  King's  side,  while 
his  comrades  were  greeted  by  their  friends, 
and  the  gentle  Queen  moved  about  the 
hall  with  beakers  of  sweet  mead  ;  for  she 
loved  her  folk  and  gladly  ministered  to 
them. 

With  eager,  affectionate  words  Hygelac 
questioned  his  kinsman  about  his  voyage, 
his  reception  by  Hrothgar,  the  battle  for 
Heorot.     Beowulf  satisfied  him  fully  on 

^  That  these  two  queens  with  their  contrasting  characters 
were  introduced  by  the  Christian  writer  of  the  poem  to  convey 
a  moral  lesson,  is  evident  from  the  allegorical  names  he  gives 
them:  "  Hygd,"  in  Anglo-Saxon,  means  "  discretion,"  and 
"  Thrytho,"  "haughtiness,  superciliousness."  At  the  same 
time  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  name  of  Thrytho  may  have 
been  suggested  by  the  actual  name  of  Offa's  queen,  which  was 
"  Cynethryth." 
19 


290  Beowulf 

all  points,  and  gave  him  a  most  detailed 
account  of  all  that  had  befallen  him,  good 
and  evil,  during  his  brief  but  eventful  ab- 
sence— speaking  of  his  deeds,  as  was  his 
wont,  with  heroic  simpHcity,  and  dwelHng 
more  on  Hrothgar's  loving-kindness  and 
generosity  than  upon  his  own  prowess. 

When  he  had  told  his  tale,  to  which  all 
who  were  in  the  hall  listened  spell-bound, 
he  ordered  all  Hrothgar's  gifts,  including 
four  of  the  beautiful  horses,  matched  to 
perfection,  to  be  brought  into  the  hall,  and 
then  and  there  presented  all  to  his  kins- 
man and  liege  lord,  bidding  him  use  and 
enjoy  the  treasures.  As  to  the  carcanet,  the 
curiously  wrought,  wonderful  jewel,  which 
Hrothgar's  queen  had  bestowed  on  him, 
he  presented  that  to  Queen  Hygd,  as  also 
three  palfreys,  keeping  only  one  of  the 
eight  horses  for  his  own  use,  in  memory 
of  "Hrothgar's  friendship.  A  shining  ex- 
ample, truly,  of  a  loyal  kinsman's  fealty 
and  love,  which  it  were  well  if  all  royal 
kinsmen  took  to  heart.  But  how  many, 
alack,  are  there  who  will,  instead,  spread 
the  deceitful  snare  for  their  trusting  com- 


At  Home  291 

rade's  feet  and  secretly,  with  wicked  guile, 
contrive  his  death  ! 

From  this  time  on,.  Beowulf  steadily 
grew  in  honours  and  in  his  sovereign's 
confidence.  He  conducted  himself  on  all 
occasions  wisely  and  with  discretion. 
Never  did  he  smite  his  hearth-fellows  in 
their  cups.  For  his  was  no  ruffian  soul ; 
but  of  all  mankind  he  most  wisely  con- 
trolled the  great  talents  which  God  had 
given  him.  Men  saw  and  wondered  at 
him.  For  they  had  held  him  in  little  es- 
teem for  a  long  time,  because  of  his  mod- 
est, reserved  ways,  which  did  not  court 
attention  ;  and  when  he  was  a  lad,  he  had 
often  been  called  slack  and  unpromising. 
Now,  however,  every  rash  judgment  was 
reversed,  as  the  mature  man  stood  radiant 
in  his  glory,  the  very  next  to  the  King, 
who  girded  him.  with  his  own  father's  gold- 
mounted  battle-sword.  King  Hrethel's  heir- 
loom, than  which  there  was  no  more 
renowned  weapon  among  the  Goths.  At 
the  same  time  he  conferred  on  him  seven 
thousand  hides  of  land,  a  princely  mansion, 
and  a  seat  of  authority  in  the  Council. 


292  Beowulf 

Not  many  years  passed  thus  peacefully. 
There  was  war  once  more  and  Hygelac 
fell  in  battle  in  the  distant  land  of  the 
sea-going  Frisians.  Beowulf  saved  him- 
self by  a  feat  of  swimming  which  no  man 
but  he  could  have  performed,  and  reached 
Gothland  unharmed.  There  he  found 
the  young  widowed  Queen,  Hygd,  beside 
herself  with  grief  and  alarm.  She  prof- 
fered him  treasure  and  realm,  jewels  and 
throne  ;  for  she  had  no  confidence  in  her 
young  son  Heardred,  who  was  scarcely 
more  than  a  child,  that  he  would  be  able 
to  hold  the  ancestral  seats  against  the 
Frisians,  whose  invasion  was  expected 
from  day  to  day.  But  neither  she  nor 
the  bereaved  people  could  prevail  with 
the  loyal  kinsman  and  chieftain  to  break 
faith  with  his  dead  cousin ;  he  upheld 
young  Heardred  in  the  public  assembly, 
respectfully  and  with  friendly  guidance, 
until  the  time  that  he  was  of  full  age,  when 
he  resigned  to  him  the  power  which  he 
had  wielded  only  so  long  as  duty  bade. 
But  fortune  soon  after  proved  fatal  to 
young  Heardred.     He,  too,  was  killed  in 


At  Home  293 

war.  Then  ancient  Hrothgar's  prophecy 
came  true,  and  Beowulf  found  himself 
King  of  the  Goths.  He  had  not  sought 
or  coveted  the  dignity,  giving  the  elder 
line  always  his  whole-hearted,  undivided 
service.  But  when  the  broad  realm  came 
to  his  hand,  he  took  it  as  a  trust  placed 
in  his  charge  by  God,  and  governed  it 
well  for  fifty  winters,  a  true  ethel-warden 
— noble  guardian  of  the  people.  But  en- 
vious fate,  which  is  ever  on  the  lurk,  would 
not  suffer  the  venerable  King  to  end  his 
days  in  undisturbed  prosperity. 


LAY   III 

THE  DRAGON 

I 
THE  TREASURE 

IN  the  land  of  the  Goths,  high  on  a 
rocky  steep  above  the  sea,  there  stood 
a  lonely  stronghold,  built  of  stone.  A 
narrow  path  led  to  it  from  the  beach  be- 
neath, but  it  was  unfrequented  by  people, 
because  the  castle  was  tenanted  by  a 
Dragon,  who  had,  for  three  hundred  years, 
kept  guard  over  a  treasure  of  gold  and 
silver — rings,  bracelets,  jewelled  drinking- 
cups,  daggers  and  swords,  and  armour  of 
all  kinds.  This  treasure  was  the  legacy  of 
an  ancient  band  of  men,  war-companions 
long  forgotten.  Death  took  them  all  off, 
294 


The  Treasure  295 

one  after  another,  and  left  one  solitary 
survivor,  to  mourn  for  lost  friends  and 
enjoy  for  a  short  while  the  accumulated 
wealth. 

There  was  a  forsaken  barrow  on  the 
down  near  by,  where  a  huge  cliff  hung 
sheer  over  the  water.  Thither  the  soli- 
tary man  carried  all  the  beaten  gold  and 
silver,  and  having  buried  it  all,  spoke  a 
few  farewell  words  : 

"  Hold  thou  now,  O  Earth,  the  wealth 
of  mighty  heroes,  who  cannot  guard  it 
any  longer.  Death  in  battle  has  carried 
them  all  away,  my  friends,  my  peers  ;  they 
share  the  bliss  of  Woden's  heavenly  hall, 
where  only  brave  warriors  slain  in  the 
field  are  admitted.  No  one  henceforth 
will  furbish  the  embossed  tankard,  the  pre- 
cious sword,  or  the  helmet  damaskeened 
with  gold  ;  the  armour  will  moulder  by  the 
side  of  the  warrior  who  wore  it ! " 

Thus  the  sole  survivor  of  a  brave  com- 
pany lamented  his  unhappiness,  by  day 
and  by  night,  until  the  finger  of  Death 
touched  his  heart  also,  and  it  stood  still. 

The    dazzling    hoard,   now   unguarded 


296  Beowulf 

was  found  by  the  old  pest  of  twilight, 
that  haunteth  barrows,  the  scaly  spiteful 
Dragon,  that  flieth  by  night,  enwrapt  in 
fire,  whom  country-folk  hold  in  awe  and 
dread.  His  great  delight  is  to  sit  on  un- 
derground hoards  and  gloat  there.  Thus 
it  happened  that,  having  discovered  this 
enormous  treasure-house,  he  held  it  for 
three  hundred  years,  until  something  oc- 
curred which  angered  him  and  let  him 
loose  on  the  unhappy  land. 

Some  unknown  man  was  fleeing  in  a 
feud,  houseless  and  pursued,  and  in  his 
flight  he  stumbled  on  the  barrow  and  on 
the  Dragon  asleep  therein  upon  the  gHtter- 
ing  hoard.  Horror-struck,  he  was  turning 
to  escape  while  he  might,  but  a  jewelled 
tankard  caught  his  eye  and  he  just 
snatched  it  before  he  ran,  his  heart  mis- 
giving him  at  the  time  that  he  was  bring- 
ing woe  on  many  by  the  deed.  But 
something  impelled  him,  stronger  than 
reason — so  he  snatched  and  ran,  hugging 
the  precious  bauble,  which  he  carried  to 
his  liege  lord,  who  pursued  him,  as  a 
pledge    of   peace,   and  bought  his  lord's 


The  Treasure  297 

friendship  and  his  own  safety  therewith. 
He  also  revealed  the  hiding-place  of  the 
hoard  ;  the  chieftain  hastened  thither  with- 
out delay,  the  barrow  was  rifled  of  many 
of  its  jewels,  while  the  Dragon  still  slept 
his  long,  heavy  sleep — and  the  mischief 
was  done  ! 

When  the  Worm  woke  and  found  him- 
self despoiled,  his  fury  was  intense  ;  but  he 
mastered  it  at  first,  to  make  his  vengeance 
more  complete  and  sure.  First  of  all  he 
sniffed  at  the  scent  along  the  rock,  and  at 
once  came  upon  the  track  of  the  enemy, 
whose  foot  had  stepped  unawares  by  his 
very  head  as  he  lay  asleep.  He  sought  dili- 
gently for  the  man,  going  over  the  ground 
w^hither  the  scent  took  him  ;  in  more  and 
more  fiery  and  raging  mood  he  kept  swing- 
ing around  and  around  the  barrow.  There 
was  not  any  man  there  in  all  that  desert 
waste.  All  the  while  he  matured  in  his 
breast  his  purpose  of  dire  and  bloody 
work.  Every  now  and  then  he  would 
dash  back  into  the  barrow,  as  though  to 
satisfy  himself  once  more  of  what  he  knew 
already :    that   there    had    been   plunder 


298 


Beowulf 


done, — then  he  would  dash  out  again. 
He  could  hardly  wait  for  the  night  to 
come.  But  presently  the  day  waned  at 
last,  and  the  Worm  had  his  will :  no  longer 
would  he  bide  in  fenced  walls,  but  issue 
forth,  equipped  with  fire,  to  do  havoc  all 
over  the  land.  Thus  it  was  that  the 
Dragon's  vengeance  had  a  sore  beginning 
for  the  people  ;  soon  it  was  to  have  a 
sorer  ending  for  their  ruler  and  benefactor. 


II 

THE  ATTACK 

ONCE  the  monster  had  begun  his  fiery 
raids,  he  did  not  stop  them  again. 
Far  into  each  night  blazed  the  farmsteads, 
late  so  cheerful.  The  flying  pest  would  fain 
have  left  nothing  alive  where  his  vast  form 
hovered  in  the  air  on  broad  black  pinions, 
like  to  a  huge  smoke-cloud,  with  live-coal 
eyes  and  flame  squirting  and  snorting  from 
open  maw  and  distended  nostrils.  It  was 
only  just  before  the  break  of  day  that  he 
shot  back  again  to  his  dark  mansion  for 
protection  ;  for  he  trusted  his  rocky  keep  ; 
only  that  trust  deceived  him  in  the  end. 

Soon  it  was  reported  to   Beowulf  (for 

evil  tidings  travel  swift  and  sure),  that  his 

own  mansion,  noblest  of  buildings,  even 

his  own  royal  seat,  the  gift  of  the  Goths, 

299 


300  Beowulf 

was  melting  away  in  fiery  waves.  So 
sorely  was  the  venerable  King  smitten  to 
the  heart  at  this  great  outrage,  that  he 
was  tempted  to  break  out  into  revilings 
against  Providence,  much  against  his  wont, 
for  never  was  man  gentler  in  his  valour, 
more  pious  in  his  power. 

Deeply  did  Beowulf  revolve  in  his 
thoughts  how  he  should  deliver  himself 
and  his  people  from  this  new  pest,  after 
the  many,  many  years  of  peace  and  happi- 
ness. The  memories  of  his  youth,  of  the 
time  when  he,  a  victorious  boy,  had  purged 
Hrothgar's  hall,  single-handed,  of  Grendel 
and  his  loathsome  brood,  were  still  green 
with  him,  and  the  thought  of  going  forth 
to  seek  the  Dragon  with  a  host,  or  even 
a  band  of  men,  was  abhorrent  to  him.  He 
decided  to  go  and  look  about  him  with 
only  eleven  companions,  led  by  the  finder 
of  the  first  jewelled  tankard,  the  cause  of 
the  baleful  feud,  who  went  as  the  thir- 
teenth of  the  party.  Then  the  aged  King 
sat  him  down  on  the  headland,  and  began 
to  bid  farewell  to  his  hearth-fellows.  For 
his  heart  was  heavy  within  him  and  full  of 


The  Attack  301 

boding  sadness,  and  his  thoughts  travelled 
back,  as  aged  men's  thoughts  are  apt  to 
do  when  they  feel  the  hour  of  the  last 
separation  drawing  nigh — back  across  the 
entire  field  of  life's  achievements,  dwelling 
longest  on  what  looms  remotest.  Thus 
now  the  ancient  warrior,  while  going  over 
the  days  of  his  youth  in  rather  rambling 
speech,  dwelt  most  lovingly  on  the  time 
when,  as  a  stripling,  he  did  page's  service 
at  the  court  of  Hygelac's  father,  Hrethel, 
to  whom  his  own  father  gave  him  when 
only  seven  years  old,  and  who  had  raised 
and  fostered  him,  and  held  him  as  dear  as 
his  own  sons.  Then,  turning  back  to  the 
present  and  its  stern  necessities,  he  ad- 
dressed an  affectionate  word  to  each  of 
his  more  familiar  comrades,  still  harping 
on  his  dislike  to  fight  the  monster  with 
any  but  naked  hands  : 

"  I  would  not  willingly  bear  sword  or 
weapon  to  meet  this  Worm,  as  I  formerly 
did  not  against  Grendel.  I  expect  to  meet 
scorching  fire,  deadly  venom ;  therefore 
shall  I  carry  a  strong  shield  and  wear  a 
fine  mail-shirt.     As  for  you,  my  men-at- 


302  Beowulf 

arms,  wait  ye  here  on  the  mountain  to  see 
which  of  us  twain  falls,  deadly  stricken 
there  on  the  rock." 

As  he  spoke,  the  brave  old  warrior  rose 
by  the  brink  of  the  down  and  sternly 
scanned  the  place  around,  when,  not  far 
from  where  they  stood,  he  beheld  a  rocky 
arch,  and  out  of  it  a  stream  breaking  from 
the  barrow,  steaming  hot,  so  no  man 
might  come  nigh  the  hoard  unscorched 
and  survive  the  Dragon's  flame. 

Then  did  the  Prince  of  the  Goths  let 
forth  out  of  his  breast  a  mighty  battle- 
shout,  which  stirred  the  keeper  of  the 
hoard  under  his  hoary  rock.  There  was 
now  no  time  for  reflection  or  for  parley- 
ing, for  from  out  the  rock  there  came  the 
hot  reeking  breath  of  the  monster,  like  a 
cloud  of  steam  ;  and  hardly  had  the  hero 
swung  his  shield  and  taken  his  stand  well 
up  by  it,  when  the  ringy  Worm  suddenly 
rolled  forth  and  buckled  himself  into  a 
bow,  and  thus,  curved  like  an  arch,  emit- 
ting flame,  advanced  upon  his  human  foe 
in  a  rapid,  gliding  shuffle.  The  shield, 
indeed,    protected    awhile    the    glorious 


The  Attack 


303 


'chieftain,  but  when  he  raised  his  arm  to 
smite  with  the  sword,  which  he  had  been 
persuaded  to  take,  the  stroke,  though 
hard,  proved  inefficient,  and  only  roused 
the  furious  Dragon  to  greater  rage,  so 
that  now  it  cast  forth  devouring  fire  in 
volumes  and  the  deadly  sparks  sprang 
every  way. 

And  now,  when  the  combatants  closed 
again,  the  monster's  breast  shot  steam  in 
scalding  jets,  and  the  man  stood  at  bay, 
unseen  for  the  fire  which  encompassed 
him.  And  of  his  own  band  of  eleven  com- 
rades, sons  of  ethelings  all,  not  one  stood 
his  ground,  but  all,  horror  stricken,  slunk 
away  to  the  woods  for  shelter. 


Ill 

WIGLAF 

NO,  not  all.  One  among  them  proved 
a  faithful  follower, — Wiglaf,  Weoh- 
stan's  son,  Beowulf's  youngest  comrade 
and  his  much-loved  kinsman.  When  he 
beheld  his  liege  lord  in  such  sore  distress, 
his  heart  smote  him,  as  he  thought  of  the 
lands  and  honours  the  King  had  so  lately 
bestowed  on  him,  and  of  the  justice  he 
had  publicly  rendered  him  and  his  father 
in  a  just  feud — and  gratitude  moved  him 
deeply. 

This  was  the  first  adventure  on  which 
the  young  etheling  had  embarked  with 
his  liege  lord.  When  he  saw  his  fellows 
shamefully  scurrying  off,  mindful  only  of 
their  own  safety,  he  turned  on  them  and 
upbraided  them  with  hottest  words  of 
noble  anger. 

304 


Wiglaf  305 

'*  What ! "  he  cried,  ''  and  shall  we  thus 
forsake  our  lord,  with  whom  we  were  fain  to 
revel  in  the  festive  hall,  drinking  his  mead, 
taking  his  golden  rings  and  well-tempered 
swords  ?  He  chose  us  out  of  all  his  host 
for  this  adventure  because  he  counted  us 
stout  warriors  and  loyal  friends.  Now 
the  day  is  come  when  he  needs  the 
strength  of  his  followers.  No  matter  that 
he  intended  to  achieve  this  great  deed 
single-handed — let  us  stand  by  him  !  God 
knows  that  I  for  one  had  liefer  the  flame 
would  swallow  me  up  with  him  than  stand 
away  now !  I  think  it  shame  that  we 
should  bear  our  shields  safe  home  unless 
we  rescue  the  life  of  our  lord.  Is  this 
acting  according  to  our  old  customs,  that 
we  leave  him,  alone  of  noble  Goths,  to 
bear  the  brunt  and  fall  in  an  unequal 
fight?" 

Thus  speaking,  young  Wiglaf  boldly 
plunged  into  steam  and  smoke,  with  his 
helmet  on  his  head,  shouting  loud  : 

*'  My  liege  Beowulf !  now  make  good 
the  boast  of  thy  youth,  that  never  in  thy 
lifetime  wouldst  thou  suffer  thy  glory  to 


3o6  Beowulf 

decline, — and  I  shall  stand  by  thee  and 
support  thee  to  the  uttermost." 

The  fell,  malignant  monster  heard  the 
cheering  words  and  came  on  with  re- 
doubled fury,  to  engage  his  hated  enemies. 
In  an  instant  the  wooden  lining  of  Wig- 
laf  s  shield  was  consumed  by  the  flame  ; 
but  he  went  forward  under  shelter  of  his 
elder  kinsman's  shield  when  his  own  was 
reduced  to  ashes.  Then  the  old  fire  of 
battle  burned  high  in  the  valiant  King's 
breast,  and  he  smote  the  Worm  so  desper- 
ate a  blow,  that  the  weapon  stood  in  his 
head,  deep  stuck  ;  but  Naegling,  the  good 
sword,  flew  in  splinters  as  it  struck,  be- 
traying its  master  as  other  blades  had 
done  before  ;  for  it  was  not  given  him 
that  steel  should  help  him  in  a  fight. 

And  now,  enraged  even  unto  death,  the 
Dragon,  after  yielding  ground  somewhat, 
made  a  rush  at  the  hero,  whose  strength 
was  giving  way  apace,  and,  opening  wide 
his  reeking  jaws,  enclosed  his  foe's  neck 
with  his  sharp,  long  fangs,  till  the  blood 
flowed  in  streams. 


IV 
VICTORY  AND  DEATH 

LOUD  is  the  minstrels'  song  in  praise 
of  Wiglaf,  the  fearless  young  ethel- 
ing,  and  the  prowess  he  displayed  in  his 
aged  kinsman's  behalf,  giving  him  time 
to  recover  his  senses,  so  that  at  the  mon- 
ster's third  onslaught,  he  could  draw  the 
knife  from  his  belt  and  gash  the  Worm 
from  below,  in  the  middle,  with  deadly 
stab.  This  was  the  supreme  hour  of  tri- 
umph in  the  hero's  career,  when  his  winged, 
scaly  foe  fell  off  writhing  and  gasping  out 
his  life. 

But  in  the  wound  which  those  cruel 
fangs  had  inflicted,  the  venom  began  its 
deadly  work.  In  vain  young  Wiglaf,  sit- 
ting down  on  a  stone  by  the  mound  where 
his  liege  lord  lay  exhausted,  applied  all  the 
307 


3o8  Beowulf 

remedies  taught  him  by  the  leech-lore  of 
cunning  dwarfs, — unloosened  the  helmet, 
cooled  the  swelling  neck  with  water  which 
he  ladled  on  it  with  his  hand,  and  laid 
on  healing  herbs  which  grew  in  plenty 
out  of  the  bountiful  earth  :  the  hurt  was 
mortal,  with  each  moment  life  was  burn- 
ing away,  with  the  fiery  poison  spreading 
through  all  the  vital  parts.  Beowulf  knew 
that  the  tale  of  his  days  was  told,  and  he 
was  spending  his  last  hours  on  earth.  But 
the  hero's  brave  soul  did  not  quail.  He 
looked  death  in  the  face,  now  that  it  bent 
close  over  him,  as  calmly  as  he  was  wont 
in  the  days  when  it  was  but  a  distant 
shadow  on  the  battle-field.  The  one  re- 
gret which  he  expressed  was  at  having  no 
son  to  whom  he  could  bequeath  his  royal 
armour.  But  he  took  comfort  in  the  con- 
sciousness of  having  been  a  just  ruler. 

*'  I  have  ruled  this  people  fifty  winters," 
he  said  ;  "  there  was  not  a  king  who  dared 
threaten  them  with  war.  Yet  did  I  hold 
my  own  by  justice.  I  have  not  sought 
unjust  quarrels  nor  have  I  sworn  many 
false  oaths.      Thinking  of  all  this,   I  am 


Victory  and  Death  309 

able,  though  sick  unto  death  with  many 
wounds,  to  take  comfort,  for  the  Ruler  of 
men  cannot  charge  me  with  murder  of 
kinsmen,  when  my  life  quitteth  the  body." 

Yet  the  dying  hero  had  one  wish  which 
he  begged  his  young  kinsman  to  satisfy 
ere  his  sight  and  senses  failed  him  ;  he 
fain  would  have  a  glimpse  of  the  treasure 
which  he  ha4  bought  with  his  life  :  ''  Now 
quickly  go  thou,  beloved  Wiglaf,"  he  said 
to  his  faithful  comrade,  *'  and  examine  the 
treasure  under  the  hoary  rock,  now  the 
Worm  lieth  dead.  I  would  have  a  look 
at  the  curious  gems,  the  hoarded  store  ; 
then  would  I  more  contentedly  resign  my 
life  and  the  lordship  I  have  held  so  long." 

Not  a  moment  did  the  devoted  youth 
lose  in  obeying  his  beloved  lord's  behest. 
He  hurried  to  the  lair  of  the  Worm  and 
gazed  with  amazement  on  the  numberless 
and  wondrous  things  of  value  which  filled 
the  barrow,  heaped  and  crushed  together, 
indenting  the  ground  where  the  Dragon 
had  lain  on  them.  The  gold  was  losing 
its  burnish,  the  precious  stones  were  fall- 
ing out,  bracelets  and  helmets  were  eaten 


3IO  Beowulf 

by  rust,  losing  their  value  day  by  day. 
Thus  can  treasure,  buried  idly  in  the 
earth,  make  fools  of  men  !  One  great 
marvel  of  cunningest  handicraft  Wiglaf 
beheld  looming  high  above  the  hoard  ;  it 
was  a  banner,  all  golden,  which  gave  forth 
a  gleam  of  light  so  bright  that  it  illumined 
the  darkest  recesses  of  the  hollow  barrow 
and  made  it  easy  to  examine  all  the  hid- 
den curiosities. 

In  great  haste,  hardly  pausing  to  glance 
at  the  uncovered  treasure,  Wiglaf  gath- 
ered into  his  bosom  and  arms  cups  and 
platters,  bracelets  and  rings,  and  snatch- 
ing also  the  magic  banner,  eagerly  re- 
turned to  the  mound  with  his  spoils, 
anxiously  wondering  in  his  faithful  heart 
whether  he  should  find  his  lord  alive  still 
where  he  left  him  painfully  breathing. 
Dropping  the  riches  on  the  ground  with- 
out a  thought  of  them,  he  quickly  knelt  by 
the  side  of  his  King,  and  again  began  to 
sprinkle  him  with  water,  till  he  had  re- 
stored him  to  consciousness  and  speech. 
As  Beowulf  opened  his  eyes  and  beheld 
the  gold  for  a  glimpse  of  which  he  had 


Victory  and  Death  311 

longed,  his  brow  cleared,  and  he  spoke  in 
feeble,  but  cheerful  tones  : 

**  I  do  give  thanks  to  the  Lord  of  all, 
the  Giver  of  all  things,  for  those  spoils 
upon  which  I  here  do  gaze  ;  to  think  that 
I  have  been  permitted  to  acquire  such 
great  wealth  for  my  earls  and  thanes  to 
enjoy  and  to  remember  me  by  after  my 
death  !  I  have  sold  my  life  for  this  treas- 
ure— do  thou  now  provide  for  my  men, 
for  I  shall  be  with  them  no  more.  Order 
my  brave  warriors  to  erect  a  lofty  cairn — 
a  mound  of  stones,  after  the  death-fire  has 
burned  out,  here  on  the  headland  above 
the  sea.  It  shall  tower  aloft  for  a  memo- 
rial to  my  friends,  and  seafaring  men  shall 
call  it  Beowulf's  Barrow,  as  they  drive 
their  foamy  barks  over  the  dangerous 
waters." 

Then  the  dying  hero  took  off  his  gold 
collar  and  with  feeble  hands  gave  it  to  the 
young  thane ;  also  bade  him  take  his  coro- 
neted  helmet  and  his  mail-shirt,  and  wear 
them  and  do  honour  to  his  chieftain's 
armour. 

Once  more  the  King  spoke,  with  failing 


312 


Beowulf 


breath :  **  Thou  art  the  last  remnant  of 
our  race.  *'  Fate  has  swept  all  my  kins- 
men into  eternity,  princes  in  chivalry  ;  and 
now  I  must  follow  them." 

This  was  the  aged  monarch's  last  speech  ; 
with  the  words  his  soul  fled  from  his  bosom, 
to  enter  into  the  everlasting  rest  of  the 
righteous. 


WIGLAF'S  REBUKE— DISMAY  AND  TEARS 

A  SAD,  agonizing  hour  it  was  for  the 
warm-hearted  youth,  new  to  the 
world  and  its  trials,  when  he  sat  upon 
the  ground  taking  in  the  first  great  grief  of 
his  life,  as  he  gazed  on  the  body  of  the  man 
who  had  been  dearest  to  him  on  earth. 
Small  comfort  he  took  from  the  sight  of 
his  dead  foe,  the  horrible  Dragon,  as  he 
lay  at  a  little  distance,  uncoiled  and  harm- 
less for  evermore.  Weary  of  heart,  but 
still  nursing  some  sort  of  stubborn,  una- 
vailing hope,  he  sat  by  his  lord's  shoulder 
and  still  kept  sprinkling  him  with  water, 
till  he  saw  his  ten  faint-hearted  comrades, 
as  they  came  sneaking  shamefacedly  from 
the  woods,  slowly  trailing  their  shields 
along  to  the  place  where  the  King  lay  dead. 
313 


314  "         Beowulf 

Grief  gave  way  to  righteous  anger  at 
the  sight.  Sternly  did  young  Wiglaf  look 
upon  the  men  he  no  longer  loved,  and  bit- 
ter rebuke  flowed  unchecked  from  his  lips. 

'*  Now,  look  you,"  he  cried  ;  '*  well  may  a 
man  who  is  minded  to  speak  the  truth, 
say  that  the  chieftain  who  gave  you  those 
costly  gewgaws,  that  warlike  apparel  in 
which  you  stand  there  before  me,  who  at 
the  ale-bench  so  often  presented  his  thanes 
with  helmet  and  mail-shirt,  utterly  and 
wretchedly  threw  his  gifts  away.  For, 
verily,  little  cause  had  he  to  boast  of  his 
companions-in-arms  in  the  hour  of  danger  ! 
Nevertheless,  it  was  given  him  by  God,  the 
Ordainer  of  victories,  to  avenge  himself 
single-handed  when  his  valour  was  put  to 
the  proof.  For  little  protection  could  I 
afford  him,  though  I  attempted  what  was 
beyond  my  strength,  in  trying  to  help  my 
kinsman.  Now  go,  ye  cravens !  No 
share  of  the  treasure  is  there  for  you  or 
yours.  And  may  every  man  of  your  kin 
be  sent  forth  into  life-long  exile,  deprived 
of  lands  and  rights,  as  soon  as  the  ethelings 
now  at  a  distance  come  together  and  are 


Wiglaf  s  Rebuke  3^5 

told  of  yoiir  disloyalty,  your  shameful 
desertion.  Go — and  learn  from  experi- 
ence that,  to  a  warrior,,  death  is  better  far 
than  a  life  of  shame  ! " 

When  he  had  relieved  his  feelings  by 
this  thundering  outburst,  Wiglaf  gave 
orders  to  make  the  woful  issue  of  the  con- 
flict known  to  the  host  of  thanes  and  earls 
who,  by  the  master's  command,  had  been 
encamped  over  the  sea-cliff  and  had  sat 
there  all  day  long  by  their  shields,  their 
souls  divided  betwixt  hope  and  fear.  One 
young  thane  rode  up  the  bluff,  sent  by  the 
rest,  to  view  the  fatal  scene  and  report  to 
them,  which  he  did  faithfully,  in  words 
pregnant  with  grief  for  the  present  and 
foreboding  for  the  near  future. 

**  Now  we  may  soon  look  for  war,"  he 
concluded  his  report ;  "  as  soon  as  the 
King's  death  is  made  known  among  the 
Franks  and  Frisians.  For  never,  since 
Hygelac  fell,  have  we  enjoyed  the  good- 
will of  the  Merovingian  Kings  of  the 
Franks,  nor  do  I  count  upon  peace  or 
good  understanding  on  the  side  of  the 
Swedes — such  is  the  feud  and  grudge  of 


3i6  Beowulf 

all  these  nations  ever  since  the  fall  of 
Hygelac  on  Frisian  land.  They  will  surely 
attack  us  as  soon  as  they  learn  that  our 
Prince  is  dead,  he  who  has  so  long  upheld 
against  all  foes  our  treasure  and  our  realm, 
winning  ever  greater  respect  in  public 
counsel,  and  ever  greater  fame  in  war. 
Now  methinks  that  quickness  were  best; 
so  let  us  look  our  last  upon  the  mighty 
King,  and  bring  him  without  delay  to  the 
funeral  pyre.  And  yonder  is  a  hoard  of 
precious  things,  gold  untold,  jewels  pur- 
chased with  our  hero's  own  life-blood. 
Never  a  warrior  shall  wear  any  of  those 
ornaments  ;  never  a  maiden  have  on  her 
neck  one  of  those  collars.  Sorrowful  and 
stripped  of  gold  ornaments  shall  all  come 
to  the  funeral  procession,  while  many  a 
hand  shall  swing  the  spear  in  the  cold  of 
the  morning ;  music  of  the  harp  shall  not 
waken  the  warriors  on  the  fateful  day ;  but 
the  ominous  raven,  fluttering  and  chatter- 
ing of  slaughter,  will  tell  the  eagle  of  his 
luck,  while,  alongside  of  the  grim  and 
hungry  wolf,  he  stripped  the  slain." 

Upon  hearing  the  grief-stricken  youth's 


Wiglaf  s  Rebuke  3^7 

discourse,  all  the  troop  arose  and  sadly, 
under  gushing  tears,  wended  their  way 
under  the  crag,  to  behold  the  gruesome 
sight.  There  they  found,  stretched  life- 
less on  the  sand,  the  man  who  had  given 
them  so  many  rings  in  bygone  times,  and, 
at  but  a  short  distance  from  him,  the  car- 
case of  the  loathsome  beast,  all  scorched 
with  its  own  flames — never  saw  they  more 
frightful  object.  It  was  fifty  feet  long 
where  it  lay.  No  more  through  the  re- 
gions of  air  would  he  sportively  whirl  at 
midnight,  then  down  again  pounce  to  re- 
joice in  his  lair — he  would  have  no  use 
for  caverns  any  more.  And  there,  un- 
watched,  open  to  all  men's  eyes,  lay  bowls 
and  dishes  and  swords  of  price,  all  rusty 
and  corroded,  as  though  they  had  lain  in 
the  earth's  lap  a  thousand  winters  ;  for  this 
treasure  had  been  bound  by  a  magic  spell, 
so  that  it  might  never  be  touched  of  man, 
unless  God  Himself  granted  to  one  of  His 
choice  to  open  the  enchanted  hoard  ;  and 
that  man  was  to  leave  his  life  as  ransom — 
such  was  Beowulf's  lot. 


VI 

THE  OBSEQUIES 

AND  now  Wiglaf  once  more  lifted  up 
his  voice  : 
"  Alas  !  we  were  not  able  to  convince  our 
beloved  master  that  he  should  not  chal- 
lenge yonder  monster,  but  should  leave 
him  to  dwell  unmolested  in  his  haunts  to 
the  end  of  the  world.  But  it  is  done — 
the  hoard  lies  open  before  us,  purchased 
at  a  fearful  price.  I  was  inside  the  cham- 
ber of  the  barrow  and  explored  the  whole 
of  it,  and  all  the  stores  it  held  ;  for,  once 
the  price  was  paid,  the  spell  was  broken, 
and  the  passage  open  to  all.  Hurriedly  I 
grabbed  with  my  hands  a  huge  burden  of 
treasure  and  carried  it  hither  to  the  feet 
of  my  King.  He  was  still  alive  then,  wise 
and  sensible  ;  freely  did  he  talk,  although 
318 


The  Obsequies  319 

the  death-pang  was  upon  him.  And  he 
bade  me  give  you  all  his  greeting  and 
tell  you  his  will  :  that  ye  should  build  up, 
in  memory  of  your  chieftain's  deeds,  on 
the  very  place  of  the  funeral  pyre,  a  stone- 
cairn  of  the  highest,  forasmuch  as  he  was 
of  all  men  the  most  famous  warrior,  as 
long  as  it  was  given  him  to  dwell  in  his 
royal  castle.  And  now  let  us  go,  all  to- 
gether, and  visit  the  fatal  hoard.  I  will 
be  your  guide,  and  ye  shall  have  your  fill 
of  gazing  on  gold  and  jewels.  After  that, 
let  us  make  ready  the  bier,  and  promptly 
equip  it,  and  so  let  us  convey  our  beloved 
master  to  the  place  where  he  shall  tarry 
long  in  the  keeping  of  the  Almighty." 

Then,  by  Wiglafs  orders,  commands 
were  sent  round  to  many  householders, 
that  they  should  haul  timber,  stout  and 
sound,  to  do  the  last  service  to  the  ruler 
of  men. 

While  this  was  being  done,  Wiglaf 
called  out  of  the  band  seven  of  the  King's 
thanes,  the  choicest ;  led  by  him,  the  eighth, 
they  went  under  the  dangerous  roof,  one 
warrior  walking  in  front,  bearing  in  his 


320  Beowulf 

hand  a  flaming  torch.  When  they  had 
taken  a  view  of  the  treasure,  lying  there 
keeperless  and  undefended,  they  did  not 
stand  upon  the  order  of  casting  lots  as  to 
who  should  loot  the  hoard,  but  went  to 
work  with  all  despatch  to  empty  the  cham- 
ber. Then,  taking  hold  of  the  dead 
Dragon,  they  haled  him  away  and  shoved 
him  over  the  precipitous  cliff.  With  a 
great  splash  the  waves  engulfed  him,  and 
that  was  the  last  of  him.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  gold  was  laden  on  waggons,  which 
followed  the  bier  whereon  the  hero  was 
borne  to  the  high,  jutting  headland  which 
he  had  chosen  for  his  resting-place. 

There  they  constructed  for  him  a  huge 
pyre,  which  they  hung  all  round  with  hel- 
mets, battle-shields,  bright  mail-shirts  ;  and 
in  the  midst  of  the  pyre,  heaving  deep 
sighs,  they  laid  their  beloved  lord.  Then 
the  warriors  set  fire  to  the  pile  in  several 
places ;  the  smoke,  heavy  and  black, 
mounted  up  to  the  sky,  the  ruddy  flames 
shot  aloft,  their  roaring  mingling  with  the 
howling  of  the  winds,  until  the  house  of 
flesh    and    bone   was    utterly    consumed. 


The  Obsequies  321 

With  sore  hearts  and  care-laden  minds, 
the  warriors  stood  around  and  silently 
mourned  their  liege  lord,  the  while  a  dirge 
of  sorrow  was  sung  by  an  aged  dame, 
whose  dishevelled  hair  streamed  in  the 
wind.  The  blue  heavens  swallowed  up 
the  black  smoke. 

Then  did  the  people  go  to  work  and 
construct  a  barrow  and  a  cairn  of  stones  on 
the  hill.  It  was  high  and  broad,  and  sea- 
faring men  would  behold  it  from  a  great 
distance.  Ten  days  they  laboured.  With 
great  skill  they  surrounded  the  ashes  of 
the  pyre  with  a  noble  embankment,  and 
the  pile  rose  like  a  beacon  for  all  coming 
ages,  even  as  the  memory  of  the  hero's 
deeds  and  noble  character. 

As  to  the  fated  hoard,  they  buried  the 
whole  in  the  barrow  under  the  cairn,  and 
left  it  there,  where  it  remains  to  this  day 
as  useless  to  mankind  as  it  has  been  ever 
since  the  last  of  a  company  of  unknown 
earls  consigned  it  to  the  earth's  keeping. 

Last  of  all  funeral  ceremonies,  twelve 
youths,  sons  of  ethelings,  rode  around 
the   barrow.       From  time   to   time   they 


322 


Beowulf 


stopped  in  the  race,  to  bewail  their  loss,  and 
bemoan  their  King,  to  recite  an  elegy  in  his 
honour,  to  celebrate  his  name  and  re- 
hearse his  deeds,  extolling  his  manhood 
with  admiring  words. 

Thus  did  the  nobles  of  the  Goths,  the 
companions  of  his  hearth,  lament  the  fall 
of  Beowulf,  their  lord.  They  said  that  he 
was  of  all  kings  in  the  world  the  mildest 
and  most  affable  to  his  men,  most  genial 
to  his  nobles,  and  most  desirous  of  glory. 


NOTE  ON  THE  "BEOWULF" 


NO  monument  of  ancient  national  liter- 
ature has  been — and  to  a  great  ex- 
tent still  is — so  overlooked  and  underrated 
as  the  Anglo-Saxon  epic  of  ''  Beowulf."  It 
has,  indeed,  been  edited  and  re-edited,  and 
duly  commented  on,  and  it  is  entered  in 
the  university  curriculum  of  Anglo-Saxon. 
But  how  great  a  proportion  of  even  inter- 
ested students  pursue  their  English  studies 
as  far  back  as  Anglo-Saxon  ?  A  cultured 
general  reader  would  vainly  ask  for  a 
readable  translation,  even  in  prose,  of  the 
"  Beowulf  ; "  nor  would  he  be  likely  to 
ask  for  one,  as  there  is  nothing  in  even 
the  best  histories  of  English  literature, 
native  or  foreign,  to  awaken  a  feeling 
of  sympathetic  curiosity — nothing  more 
than  either  a  bare  mention,  or  at  best, 
a  brief  account,  always  insufficient  and  fre- 
323 


324  Beowulf 

quently  misleading.  And — proof  positive 
of  the  poem's  total  lack  of  popularity — it 
has  never  yet  been  illustrated. 

An  untoward  fate  seemed  to  pursue  the 
''  Beowulf"  even  before  it  came  into  the 
hands  of  the  scholars.  There  is  only  one 
manuscript  of  it  in  existence,  which  is  hid 
away  among  nine  others,  comparatively 
unimportant,  in  a  folio  volume  labelled 
Vitellius  A,  XV,,  and  belonging  to  the 
Cottonian  Library  in  the  British  Museum. 
It  was  noticed  for  the  first  time,  in  1705, 
in  a  catalogue  of  Anglo-Saxon  manuscripts 
(Wanley's),  in  which  it  is  described  as 
containing  an  account  of  certain  wars 
between  Sweden  and  Denmark.  Need- 
less to  say  it  is  nothing  of  the  kind.  The 
notice  was  not  inviting,  and  nobody  paid 
much  attention  to  it.  One  hundred  years 
later,  in  1807,  Sharon  Turner  mentioned 
the  poem  in  his  History  of  the  Anglo- 
Saxons,  and  even  attempted  a  translation 
of  a  few  extracts,  with  but  indifferent 
success,  owing  to  the  then  still  very  imper- 
fect knowledge  of  Anglo-Saxon  versifica- 
tion and  poetic  language.     Still,  the  poem 


Note  on  the  '^Beowulf"      325 

was  now  treated  with  respect,  and  the 
study  of  it  was  taken  up  conscientiously, 
by  some  even  enthusiastically. 

But  the  students  encountered  difficulties 
which  they  would  have  been  spared  a  hun- 
dred or  even  eighty  years  before  :  the 
original  manuscript — the  only  one — was 
no  longer  intact.  It  had  been  badly  in- 
jured in  a  fire  which  broke  out  in  the  Cot- 
tonian  Library  in  1731,  destroying  114 
volumes  and  damaging  98  others,  **  so  as  to 
make  them  defective,"  in  the  words  of  the 
report ;  and  among  these  ''  defective  "  ones 
was  our  folio.  Numerous  leaves  were 
scorched,  and  of  these,  again,  many  chip- 
ped off  in  the  course  of  time,  doing  away 
with  many  ends  of  lines.  The  loss,  of 
course,  is  irretrievable,  but  fortunately  not 
so  great  as  to  impair  materially  the  sense 
and  the  value  of  the  whole.  Strangely 
enough,  the  same  fate,  only  worse,  over- 
took the  first  attempt  at  an  edition  of  the 
poem.  The  Danish  scholar,  Thorkelin, 
had  brought  home  two  complete  copies  of 
it,  for  purposes  of  study  and  translation. 
During  twenty  years  he  gave  the  work 


326  Beowulf 

much  time,  off  and  on,  and  had  the  poem 
ahnost  ready  for  the  press  when,  in  1807, 
his  house  was  burned  down  during  the 
bombardment  of  Copenhagen  by  the 
Enghsh,  and  his  edition  of  the  "  Beowulf 
perished,  with  most  of  his  books  How- 
ever, the  two  manuscript  copies  having 
fortunately  escaped  destruction,  Thorkelin 
had  the  extraordinary  courage  to  do  the 
work  over  again,  and  in  181 5  came  out  the 
first  edition  of  the  "  Beowulf," — the  first 
printed  text,  with  a  parallel  Latin  transla- 
tion and  indices.  Since  then  scholars  have 
done  their  duty  by  this  noble  monument — 
in  every  way  except  making  it  popular. 

Coming  now  to  the  discussion  of  the 
poem  itself,  the  peculiarity  which  strikes 
us  most  at  the  first  reading  is  that,  while 
it  is  avowedly  the  national  epic  of  the 
Anglo-Saxons  and  one  of  the  oldest  mon- 
uments of  the  Anglo-Saxon  language,  the 
hero  is  a  Goth,  and  the  action  takes  place 

'  A  very  complete  survey  of  the  critical  and  philological  work 
done  on  the  "  Beowulf  "  up  to  date  will  be  found  in  the  Intro- 
duction to  Professor  John  Earle's  literal  prose  translation  (with 
notes)  published  at  Oxford  in  1892. 


Note  on  the  ''Beowulf"      327 

in  Denmark  and  in  Sweden.  Yet  the 
scenery  described  is  that  of  a  part  of 
Northumbria,  in  England,  which  can  be 
identified  to  this  day,  and  some  of  the 
names  of  the  locality  are  said  to  tally  with 
those  in  the  poem.  It  would  seem,  there- 
fore, that  the  Angles  and  Saxons,  who 
were  near  neighbours  of  the  Danes  in  the 
German  mother-country,  brought  the  story 
over  to  the  British  Island  and  it  was  re- 
told in  literary  poetic  form  before  the 
Danes  came  over  as  pirates  and  conquer- 
ors. Had  the  poem  been  written  after 
this  event,  a  Swedo-Danish  hero  could 
hardly  have  been  adopted  by  the  subju- 
gated Anglo-Saxons,  nor  could  the  Danes 
have  been  mentioned  with  such  absolute 
absence  of  animosity. 

Another  not  only  peculiar  but  highly 
puzzling  feature  is  that  there  are  two 
Beowulfs  :  the  second  king  of  the  Skyld- 
ing  dynasty  (also  called  Beow),  Beowulf 
the  Dane  ;  and  the  hero  of  the  poem,  Beo- 
wulf the  Goth,  who  comes  over  the  sea, 
with  a  picked  band  of  Goths,  to  deliver  the 
Skyldings  from  a  most  untoward  visitation. 


328  Beowulf 

What  makes  this  thing  stranger  still,  is 
that  the  poem  begins  with  a  glorification 
of  the  warlike  Danes,  leading  us  to  expect 
that  it  is  their  national  hero  whose  exploits 
we  are  to  be  called  upon  to  admire.  In- 
stead of  which,  the  Danes  appear  only  in 
the  not  very  admirable  rdle  of  people  who 
endure  an  intolerable  nuisance  passively 
for  twelve  years,  unable  to  rid  themselves 
of  it — a  fact  which  is  duly  brought  home 
to  them  by  their  deliverer  in  a  moment  of 
legitimate  irritation.  The  reason  for  this 
curious  incongruity  lies  almost  certainly  in 
the  alterations  which  the  old  story  under- 
went,— as  all  epic  stories  did  in  the  pro- 
gress of  oral  transmission,  and  even  in  the 
first  written  attempts,  which  were  often 
cast  and  re-cast  before  they  reached  their 
final  form.  Originally,  the  second  Beo- 
wulf was  certainly  a  Dane  and  a  Skylding. 
As  such,  he  would  quite  naturally  and 
properly  be  named  after  the  ancestor  who 
is  held  up  as  a  model  prince  in  the  pro- 
logue. The  latest  criticism  detects  in  the 
poem  itself  traces  amounting  to  intrinsic 
proof  that  such  was  the  case.     It  was  nat- 


Note  on  the  '*  Beowulf"      329 

ural  that  Beowulf,  himself  a  Skylding, 
should  be  the  champion  and  deliverer  of' 
his  people  and  house,  and,  after  the  death 
of  the  aged  king,  should  be  called  to  the 
throne  by  the  country  for  which  he  had 
laboured  and  fought.  Gothland  is  evi- 
dently, to  use  the  clever  French  phrase, 
"  dragged  in  by  the  hair  "  ;  by  whom  and 
for  what  reason,  is  immaterial  to  the  mere 
reading  of  the  story,  But  a  genealogical 
connection  between  the  two  Beowulfs  is 
felt  as  an  imperious  necessity,  and  the  ab- 
sence of  it  is  a  glaring  inconsistency  which 
it  would  be  hopeless  to  attempt  to  smooth 
over  or  explain  away  for  the  benefit  of 
youthful  readers,  whose  exacting  logic  in 
such  things  is  proverbial.  Wherefore  the 
expedient  has  been  resorted  to  in  the 
present  volume  of  making  the  second  Beo- 
wulf a  Skylding  by  his  mother— din  expe- 
dient innocent  enough,  since  we  are  not 
told  who  was  his  mother ;  and  why  could 
not  a  royal  daughter  of  Denmark  be  mar- 
ried to  a  royal  thane  of  Gothland  ? 

As  to  the  authorship  of  the  poem,  it  is 
of  course  obscure.    But  the  latest  criticism 


33^  Beowulf 

shows  good  reason  to  ascribe  it  to  a  high 
Church  dignitary — possibly  Hygeberht, 
Bishop  of  Litchfield — statesman  and 
courtier  at  the  time  of  the  great  Offa  II., 
King  of  Mercia  (mentioned  with  great,  but 
not  servile  praise  in  Lay  II.),  who  in  the 
second  half  of  the  eighth  century  gathered 
the  entire  Heptarchy  under  his  overlord- 
ship.  The  few  historical  touches  betray 
the  man  versed  in  the  affairs  of  more 
countries  than  his  own.^ 

'  For  the  very  interesting  development  of  this  hypothesis,  as 
well  as  for  other  points  of  exhaustive  research  and  criticism, 
see  J.  Earle's  Introduction,  already  alluded  to. 

Professor  Earle's  version  has  been  fully  utilised  in  the  present 
volume,  even  to  the  extent  of  frequently  making  use  of  its 
wording,  where  it  was  not  too  archaic  or  literal  for  ordinary 
reading  purposes. 


KEY   TO    THE    PRONUNCIATION    OF 
PROPER  NAMES. 


Aeschere 

Alberich 

Balmung 

Bechlaren 

Beowulf 

Breca  . 

Brunhilde 

Dankwart 

Eckewart 

Etzel  . 

Folker 

Gemot 

Giselher 

Grendel 

Gunther 

Hagen 

Hela    . 

Helferich 

Helke 

Heorot 

Heremod 

Hildebrand 


Es'-ka-ra. 

Ar-ber-ic. 

BalK-mung. 

Bec-la^-ren. 

Bi'-o-wulf. 

Bra'-ka. 

Brun-hir-da. 

Dank^-vart. 

lEck^-e-vart. 

Et'-sel. 

Foir-ker. 

Ger'-n6t. 

Gf-zel-har. 

Gren^-del. 

Gun'-ter. 

Hag'-en. 

HaMa. 

Her.fer-ic. 

Her-ka 

Hi'-o-rot. 

Ha'-re-m6d. 

Hir-de-brand, 


331 


332        Key  to  Pronunciation 


*  Hrethel 
^  Hrothgar 
^  Hrunting 
Hygd. 
Hygeberht 
Hygelac 
Isenstein 
Kriemhilde 
Ludegast 
Naegling 
Nibelungs 
Ortewein 
Rudiger 
Siegfried 
Sieglinde 
Siegmund 
Skyldings 
Thrytho 
Tronje 
Unferth 
Ute     . 
Valkyrie 
Wealhtheow 
Weohstan 
Wiglaf 
Wolfhart 
Worms 
Wulfgar 
Xante 


Hra'-thel. 

Hroth^-gar. 

Hrunt'-ing. 

Higd. 

Hig'-e-bert. 

Hig'-e-lac. 

r-sen-stlne. 

Krim-hir-da. 

Lu^-de-gast. 

Nag'-ling. 

Ni^-be-lungs. 

Orr'-te-vTne. 

Ru'-di-ger. 

Sig^-frid. 

Sig-lin'-da. 

Sig'-mund. 

Skrld'-ings. 

Thri'-tho. 

Tron'-y^. 

Un^-ferth. 

U'-ta. 

Val-kir'-ya. 

Wer-the-o. 

W'l'-o-stan. 

WigMaf. 

Volf-hart. 

Vorrms. 

Wulf'-gar. 

Kzan'-ta. 


*  The  H  to  be  aspirated. 


WORKS    BY 

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III.  The  Story  of  Media,  Babylonia,  and  Persia. 

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cloth $1   50 

IV.  The  Story  of  Vedic  India.     As  embodied  prin- 

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VI.  The  Story  of  Ancient  China.  Presenting  the 
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the  Shumiro-Accads  of  Chaldea,  together  with  an 
analysis  of  the  teachings  of  Confucius  and  Men- 
cius.     (In  preparation.) 


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